the ice maiden-第6部分

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thirty。〃　Her　sweet　little　mouth　was　never　still　a　moment；　and　all　that

she　said　sounded　in　Rudy's　ears　as　matters　of　the　greatest　importance；

and　at　last　he　told　her　what　he　was　longing　to　tell。　How　often　he

had　been　at　Bex；　how　well　he　knew　the　mill；　and　how　often　he　had

seen　Babette；　when　most　likely　she　had　not　noticed　him；　and　lastly；

that　full　of　many　thoughts　which　he　could　not　tell　her；　he　had　been　to

the　mill　on　the　evening　when　she　and　her　father　has　started　on　their

long　journey；　but　not　too　far　for　him　to　find　a　way　to　overtake

them。　He　told　her　all　this；　and　a　great　deal　more；　he　told　her　how

much　he　could　endure　for　her；　and　that　it　was　to　see　her；　and　not

the　shooting…match；　which　had　brought　him　to　Interlachen。　Babette

became　quite　silent　after　hearing　all　this；　it　was　almost　too　much；

and　it　troubled　her。

　　　　And　while　they　thus　wandered　on；　the　sun　sunk　behind　the　lofty

mountains。　The　Jungfrau　stood　out　in　brightness　and　splendor；　as　a

back…ground　to　the　green　woods　of　the　surrounding　hills。　Every　one

stood　still　to　look　at　the　beautiful　sight；　Rudy　and　Babette　among

them。

　　　　〃Nothing　can　be　more　beautiful　than　this；〃　said　Babette。

　　　　〃Nothing！〃　replied　Rudy；　looking　at　Babette。

　　　　〃To…morrow　I　must　return　home；〃　remarked　Rudy　a　few　minutes

afterwards。

　　　　〃Come　and　visit　us　at　Bex；〃　whispered　Babette；　〃my　father　will

be　pleased　to　see　you。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　V。　ON　THE　WAY　HOME



　　　　Oh；　what　a　number　of　things　Rudy　had　to　carry　over　the

mountains；　when　he　set　out　to　return　home！　He　had　three　silver　cups；

two　handsome　pistols；　and　a　silver　coffee…pot。　This　latter　would　be

useful　when　he　began　housekeeping。　But　all　these　were　not　the　heaviest

weight　he　had　to　bear；　something　mightier　and　more　important　he

carried　with　him　in　his　heart；　over　the　high　mountains；　as　he

journeyed　homeward。

　　　　The　weather　was　dismally　dark；　and　inclined　to　rain；　the　clouds

hung　low；　like　a　mourning　veil　on　the　tops　of　the　mountains；　and

shrouded　their　glittering　peaks。　In　the　woods　could　be　heard　the　sound

of　the　axe　and　the　heavy　fall　of　the　trunks　of　the　trees；　as　they

rolled　down　the　slopes　of　the　mountains。　When　seen　from　the　heights；

the　trunks　of　these　trees　looked　like　slender　stems；　but　on　a　nearer

inspection　they　were　found　to　be　large　and　strong　enough　for　the　masts

of　a　ship。　The　river　murmured　monotonously；　the　wind　whistled；　and　the

clouds　sailed　along　hurriedly。

　　　　Suddenly　there　appeared；　close　by　Rudy's　side；　a　young　maiden；

he　had　not　noticed　her　till　she　came　quite　near　to　him。　She　was　also

going　to　ascend　the　mountain。　The　maiden's　eyes　shone　with　an

unearthly　power；　which　obliged　you　to　look　into　them；　they　were

strange　eyes；…　clear；　deep；　and　unfathomable。

　　　　〃Hast　thou　a　lover？〃　asked　Rudy；　all　his　thoughts　were　naturally

on　love　just　then。

　　　　〃I　have　none；〃　answered　the　maiden；　with　a　laugh；　it　was　as　if　she

had　not　spoken　the　truth。

　　　　〃Do　not　let　us　go　such　a　long　way　round；〃　said　she。　〃We　must

keep　to　the　left；　it　is　much　shorter。〃

　　　　〃Ah；　yes；〃　he　replied；　〃and　fall　into　some　crevasse。　Do　you

pretend　to　be　a　guide；　and　not　know　the　road　better　than　that？〃

　　　　〃I　know　every　step　of　the　way；〃　said　she；　〃and　my　thoughts　are

collected；　while　yours　are　down　in　the　valley　yonder。　We　should

think　of　the　Ice　Maiden　while　we　are　up　here；　men　say　she　is　not

kind　to　their　race。〃

　　　　〃I　fear　her　not；〃　said　Rudy。　〃She　could　not　keep　me　when　I　was　a

child；　I　will　not　give　myself　up　to　her　now　I　am　a　man。〃

　　　　Darkness　came　on；　the　rain　fell；　and　then　it　began　to　snow；　and

the　whiteness　dazzled　the　eyes。

　　　　〃Give　me　your　hand；〃　said　the　maiden；　〃I　will　help　you　to

mount。〃　And　he　felt　the　touch　of　her　icy　fingers。

　　　　〃You　help　me；〃　cried　Rudy；　〃I　do　not　yet　require　a　woman　to　help

me　to　climb。〃　And　he　stepped　quickly　forwards　away　from　her。

　　　　The　drifting　snow…shower　fell　like　a　veil　between　them；　the　wind

whistled；　and　behind　him　he　could　hear　the　maiden　laughing　and

singing；　and　the　sound　was　most　strange　to　hear。

　　　　〃It　certainly　must　be　a　spectre　or　a　servant　of　the　Ice　Maiden；〃

thought　Rudy；　who　had　heard　such　things　talked　about　when　he　was　a

little　boy；　and　had　stayed　all　night　on　the　mountain　with　the　guides。

　　　　The　snow　fell　thicker　than　ever；　the　clouds　lay　beneath　him；　he

looked　back；　there　was　no　one　to　be　seen；　but　he　heard　sounds　of

mocking　laughter；　which　were　not　those　of　a　human　voice。

　　　　When　Rudy　at　length　reached　the　highest　part　of　the　mountain；

where　the　path　led　down　to　the　valley　of　the　Rhone；　the　snow　had

ceased；　and　in　the　clear　heavens　he　saw　two　bright　stars　twinkling。

They　reminded　him　of　Babette　and　of　himself；　and　of　his　future

happiness；　and　his　heart　glowed　at　the　thought。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VI。　THE　VISIT　TO　THE　MILL



　　　　〃What　beautiful　things　you　have　brought　home！〃　said　his　old

foster…mother；　and　her　strange…looking　eagle…eyes　sparkled；　while

she　wriggled　and　twisted　her　skinny　neck　more　quickly　and　strangely

than　ever。　〃You　have　brought　good　luck　with　you；　Rudy。　I　must　give　you

a　kiss；　my　dear　boy。〃

　　　　Rudy　allowed　himself　to　be　kissed；　but　it　could　be　seen　by　his

countenance　that　he　only　endured　the　infliction　as　a　homely　duty。

　　　　〃How　handsome　you　are；　Rudy！〃　said　the　old　woman。

　　　　〃Don't　flatter；〃　said　Rudy；　with　a　laugh；　but　still　he　was

pleased。

　　　　〃I　must　say　once　more；〃　said　the　old　woman；　〃that　you　are　very

lucky。〃

　　　　〃Well；　in　that　I　believe　you　are　right；〃　said　he；　as　he　thought　of

Babette。　Never　had　he　felt　such　a　longing　for　that　deep　valley　as　he

now　had。　〃They　must　have　returned　home　by　this　time；〃　said　he　to

himself；　〃it　is　already　two　days　over　the　time　which　they　fixed

upon。　I　must　go　to　Bex。〃

　　　　So　Rudy　set　out　to　go　to　Bex；　and　when　he　arrived　there；　he

found　the　miller　and　his　daughter　at　home。　They　received　him　kindly；

and　brought　him　many　greetings　from　their　friends　at　Interlachen。

Babette　did　not　say　much。　She　seemed　to　have　become　quite　silent；

but　her　eyes　spoke；　and　that　was　quite　enough　for　Rudy。　The　miller　had

generally　a　great　deal　to　talk　about；　and　seemed　to　expect　that

every　one　should　listen　to　his　jokes；　and　laugh　at　them；　for　was　not

he　the　rich　miller？　But　now　he　was　more　inclined　to　hear　Rudy's

adventures　while　hunting　and　travelling；　and　to　listen　to　his

descriptions　of　the　difficulties　the　chamois…hunter　has　to　overcome　on

the　mountain…tops；　or　of　the　dangerous　snow…drifts　which　the　wind

and　weather　cause　to　cling　to　the　edges　of　the　rocks；　or　to　lie　in　the

form　of　a　frail　bridge　over　the　abyss　beneath。　The　eyes　of　the　brave

Rudy　sparkled　as　he　described　the　life　of　a　hunter；　or　spoke　of　the

cunning　of　the　chamois　and　their　wonderful　leaps；　also　of　the　powerful

fohn　and　the　rolling　avalanche。　He　noticed　that　the　more　he　described；

the　more　interested　the　miller　became；　especially　when　he　spoke　of　the

fierce　vulture　and　of　the　royal　eagle。　Not　far　from　Bex；　in　the　canton

Valais；　was　an　eagle's　nest；　more　curiously　built　under　a　high；

over…hanging　rock。　In　this　nest　was　a　young　eagle；　but　who　would

venture　to　take　it？　A　young　Englishman　had　offered　Rudy　a　whole

handful　of　gold；　if　he　would　bring　him　the　young　eagle　alive。

　　　　〃There　is　a　limit　to　everything；〃　was　Rudy's　reply。　〃The　eagle

could　not　be　taken；　it　would　be　folly　to　attempt　it。〃

　　　　The　wine　was　passed　round　freely；　and　the　conversation　kept　up

pleasantly；　but　the　evening　seemed　too　short　for　Rudy；　although　it　was

midnight　when　he　left　the　miller's　house；　after　this　his　first　visit。

　　　　While　the　lights　in　the　windows　of　the　miller's　house　still

twinkled　through　the　green　foliage；　out　through　the　open　skylight　came

the　parlor…cat　on　to　the　roof；　and　along　the　water…pipe　walked　the

kitchen…cat　to　meet　her。

　　　　〃What　is　the　news　at　the　mill？〃　asked　the　parlor…cat。　〃Here　in　the

house　there　is　secret　love…making　going　on；　which　the　father　knows

nothing　about。　Rudy　and　Babette　have　been　treading　on　each　other's

paws；　under　the　table；　all　the　evening。　They　trod　on　my　tail　twice；

but　I　did　not　mew；　that　would　have　attracted　notice。〃

　　　　〃Well；　I　should　have　mewed；〃　said　the　kitchen…cat。

　　　　〃What　might　suit　the　kitchen　would　not　suit　the　parlor；〃　said

the　other。　〃I　am　quite　curious　to　know　what　the　miller　will　say　when

he　finds　out　this　engagement。〃

　　　　Yes；　indeed；　what　would　the　miller　say？　Rudy　himself　was　anxious

to　know　that；　but　to　wait　till　the　miller　heard　of　it　from　others

was　out　of　the　question。　Therefore；　not　many　days　after　this　visit；　he

was　riding　in　the　omnibus　that　runs　between　the　two　cantons；　Valais

and　Vaud。　These　cantons　are　separated　by　the　Rhone；　over　which　is　a

bridge　that　unites　them。　Rudy；　as　usual；　had　plenty　of　courage；　and

indulged　in　pleasant　thoughts　of　the　favorable　answer　he　should

receive　that　evening。　And　when　the　omnibus　returned；　Rudy　was　again

seated　in　it；　going　homewards；　and　at　the　same　time　the　parlor…cat

at　the　miller's　house　ran　out　quickly；　crying；…

　　　　〃Here；　you　from　the　kitchen；　what　do　you　think？　The　miller　knows

all　now。　Everything　has　come　to　a　delightful　end。　Rudy　came　here

this　evening；　and　he　and　Babette　had　much　whispering　and　secret

conversation　together。　They　stood　in　the　path　near　the　miller's

room。　I　lay　at　their　feet；　but　they　had　no　eyes　or　thoughts　for　me。

　　　　〃'I　will　go　to　your　father　at　once；'　said　he；　'it　is　the　most

honorable　way。'

　　　　〃'Shall　I　go　with　you？'　asked　Babette；　'it　will　give　you　courage。'

　　　　〃'I　have　plenty　of　courage；'　said　Rudy；　'but　if　you　are　with　me；

he　must　be　friendly；　whether　he　says　Yes　or　No。'

　　　　〃So　they　turned　to　go　in；　and　Rudy　trod　heavily　on　my　tail；　he

certainly　is　very　clumsy。　I　mewed；　but　neither　he　nor　Babette　had

any　ears　for　me。　They　opened　the　door；　and　entered　together。　I　was

before　them；　and　jumped　on　the　back　of　a　chair。　I　hardly　know　what

Rudy　said；　but　the　miller　flew　into　a　rage；　and　threatened　to　kick　him

out　of　the　house。　He　told　him　he　might　go　to　the　mountains；　and　look

after　the　chamois；　but　not　after　our　little　Babette。〃

　　　　〃And　what　did