anne lisbeth-第3部分

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herself　upon　the　earth；　and　with　her　hands　dug　a　grave　in　the　hard

ground；　so　that　the　blood　ran　from　her　fingers。　〃A　grave！　dig　me　a

grave！〃　still　sounded　in　her　ears；　she　was　fearful　that　the　cock　might

crow；　and　the　first　red　streak　appear　in　the　east；　before　she　had

finished　her　work；　and　then　she　would　be　lost。　And　the　cock　crowed；

and　the　day　dawned　in　the　east；　and　the　grave　was　only　half　dug。　An

icy　hand　passed　over　her　head　and　face；　and　down　towards　her　heart。

〃Only　half　a　grave；〃　a　voice　wailed；　and　fled　away。　Yes；　it　fled

away　over　the　sea；　it　was　the　ocean　spectre；　and；　exhausted　and

overpowered；　Anne　Lisbeth　sunk　to　the　ground；　and　her　senses　left　her。

　　　　It　was　a　bright　day　when　she　came　to　herself；　and　two　men　were

raising　her　up；　but　she　was　not　lying　in　the　churchyard；　but　on　the

sea…shore；　where　she　had　dug　a　deep　hole　in　the　sand；　and　cut　her　hand

with　a　piece　of　broken　glass；　whose　sharp　stern　was　stuck　in　a

little　block　of　painted　wood。　Anne　Lisbeth　was　in　a　fever。

Conscience　had　roused　the　memories　of　superstitions；　and　had　so

acted　upon　her　mind；　that　she　fancied　she　had　only　half　a　soul；　and

that　her　child　had　taken　the　other　half　down　into　the　sea。　Never　would

she　be　able　to　cling　to　the　mercy　of　Heaven　till　she　had　recovered

this　other　half　which　was　now　held　fast　in　the　deep　water。

　　　　Anne　Lisbeth　returned　to　her　home；　but　she　was　no　longer　the　woman

she　had　been。　Her　thoughts　were　like　a　confused；　tangled　skein；　only

one　thread；　only　one　thought　was　clear　to　her；　namely　that　she　must

carry　the　spectre　of　the　sea…shore　to　the　churchyard；　and　dig　a

grave　for　him　there；　that　by　so　doing　she　might　win　back　her　soul。

Many　a　night　she　was　missed　from　her　home；　and　was　always　found　on　the

sea…shore　waiting　for　the　spectre。

　　　　In　this　way　a　whole　year　passed；　and　then　one　night　she　vanished

again；　and　was　not　to　be　found。　The　whole　of　the　next　day　was　spent　in

a　useless　search　after　her。

　　　　Towards　evening；　when　the　clerk　entered　the　church　to　toll　the

vesper　bell；　he　saw　by　the　altar　Anne　Lisbeth；　who　had　spent　the　whole

day　there。　Her　powers　of　body　were　almost　exhausted；　but　her　eyes

flashed　brightly；　and　on　her　cheeks　was　a　rosy　flush。　The　last　rays　of

the　setting　sun　shone　upon　her；　and　gleamed　over　the　altar　upon　the

shining　clasps　of　the　Bible；　which　lay　open　at　the　words　of　the

prophet　Joel；　〃Rend　your　hearts　and　not　your　garments；　and　turn　unto

the　Lord。〃

　　　　〃That　was　just　a　chance；〃　people　said；　but　do　things　happen　by

chance？　In　the　face　of　Anne　Lisbeth；　lighted　up　by　the　evening　sun；

could　be　seen　peace　and　rest。　She　said　she　was　happy　now；　for　she

had　conquered。　The　spectre　of　the　shore；　her　own　child；　had　come　to

her　the　night　before；　and　had　said　to　her；　〃Thou　hast　dug　me　only　half

a　grave：　but　thou　hast　now；　for　a　year　and　a　day；　buried　me　altogether

in　thy　heart；　and　it　is　there　a　mother　can　best　hide　her　child！〃　And

then　he　gave　her　back　her　lost　soul；　and　brought　her　into　the

church。　〃Now　I　am　in　the　house　of　God；〃　she　said；　〃and　in　that　house

we　are　happy。〃

　　　　When　the　sun　set；　Anne　Lisbeth's　soul　had　risen　to　that　region

where　there　is　no　more　pain；　and　Anne　Lisbeth's　troubles　were　at　an

end。





　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　END

。