第 2 节
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公主站记 更新:2024-09-03 10:28 字数:9322
At length he become a journeyman; and then; for the first time; he
prepared for a journey to Copenhagen; with his knapsack packed and
ready。 A master was expecting him there; and he thought of Joanna; and how glad she would be to see him。 She was now seventeen; and he nineteen years old。 He wanted to buy a gold ring for her in Kjoge; but then he recollected how far more beautiful such things would be in Copenhagen。 So he took leave of his parents; and on a rainy day;
late in the autumn; wandered forth on foot from the town of his birth。
The leaves were falling from the trees; and; by the time he arrived at
his new master's in the great metropolis; he was wet through。 On the
following Sunday he intended to pay his first visit to Joanna's
father。 When the day came; the new journeyman's clothes were brought out; and a new hat; which he had brought in Kjoge。 The hat became him very well; for hitherto he had only worn a cap。 He found the house that he sought easily; but had to mount so many stairs that he became quite giddy; it surprised him to find how people lived over one another in this dreadful town。
On entering a room in which everything denoted prosperity;
Joanna's father received him very kindly。 The new wife was a
stranger to him; but she shook hands with him; and offered him coffee。
〃Joanna will be very glad to see you;〃 said her father。 〃You
have grown quite a nice young man; you shall see her presently; she is
a good child; and is the joy of my heart; and; please God; she will
continue to be so; she has her own room now; and pays us rent for it。〃
And the father knocked quite politely at a door; as if he were a
stranger; and then they both went in。 How pretty everything was in
that room! a more beautiful apartment could not be found in the
whole town of Kjoge; the queen herself could scarcely be better
accommodated。 There were carpets; and rugs; and window curtains
hanging to the ground。 Pictures and flowers were scattered about。
There was a velvet chair; and a looking…glass against the wall; into
which a person might be in danger of stepping; for it was as large
as a door。 All this Knud saw at a glance; and yet; in truth; he saw
nothing but Joanna。 She was quite grown up; and very different from
what Knud had fancied her; and a great deal more beautiful。 In all
Kjoge there was not a girl like her; and how graceful she looked;
although her glance at first was odd; and not familiar; but for a
moment only; then she rushed towards him as if she would have kissed him; she did not; however; although she was very near it。 Yes; she really was joyful at seeing the friend of her childhood once more; and the tears even stood in her eyes。 Then she asked so many questions about Knud's parents; and everything; even to the elder…tree and the willow; which she called 〃elder…mother and willow…father;〃 as if they had been human beings; and so; indeed; they might be; quite as much as the gingerbread cakes。 Then she talked about them; and the story of their silent love; and how they lay on the counter together
and split in two; and then she laughed heartily; but the blood
rushed into Knud's cheeks; and his heart beat quickly。 Joanna was
not proud at all; he noticed that through her he was invited by her
parents to remain the whole evening with them; and she poured out
the tea and gave him a cup herself; and afterwards she took a book and read aloud to them; and it seemed to Knud as if the story was all
about himself and his love; for it agreed so well with his own
thoughts。 And then she sang a simple song; which; through her singing; became a true story; and as if she poured forth the feelings of her own heart。
〃Oh;〃 he thought; 〃she knows I am fond of her。〃 The tears he could
not restrain rolled down his cheeks; and he was unable to utter a
single word; it seemed as if he had been struck dumb。
When he left; she pressed his hand; and said; 〃You have a kind
heart; Knud: remain always as you are now。〃 What an evening of
happiness this had been; to sleep after it was impossible; and Knud
did not sleep。
At parting; Joanna's father had said; 〃Now; you won't quite forget
us; you must not let the whole winter go by without paying us
another visit;〃 so that Knud felt himself free to go again the
following Sunday evening; and so he did。 But every evening after
working hours… and they worked by candle…light then… he walked out
into the town; and through the street in which Joanna lived; to look
up at her window。 It was almost always lighted up; and one evening
he saw the shadow of her face quite plainly on the window blind;
that was a glorious evening for him。 His master's wife did not like
his always going out in the evening; idling; wasting time; as she
called it; and she shook her head。
But his master only smiled; and said; 〃He is a young man; my dear;
you know。〃
〃On Sunday I shall see her;〃 said Knud to himself; 〃and I will
tell her that I love her with my whole heart and soul; and that she
must be my little wife。 I know I am now only a poor journeyman
shoemaker; but I will work and strive; and become a master in time。
Yes; I will speak to her; nothing comes from silent love。 I learnt
that from the gingerbread…cake story。〃
Sunday came; but when Knud arrived; they were all unfortunately
invited out to spend the evening; and were obliged to tell him so。
Joanna pressed his hand; and said; 〃Have you ever been to the
theatre? you must go once; I sing there on Wednesday; and if you
have time on that day; I will send you a ticket; my father knows where
your master lives。〃 How kind this was of her! And on Wednesday;
about noon; Knud received a sealed packet with no address; but the
ticket was inside; and in the evening Knud went; for the first time in
his life; to a theatre。 And what did he see? He saw Joanna; and how
beautiful and charming she looked! He certainly saw her being
married to a stranger; but that was all in the play; and only a
pretence; Knud well knew that。 She could never have the heart; he
thought; to send him a ticket to go and see it; if it had been real。
So he looked on; and when all the people applauded and clapped their hands; he shouted 〃hurrah。〃 He could see that even the king smiled at Joanna; and seemed delighted with her singing。 How small Knud felt; but then he loved her so dearly; and thought she loved him; and the man must speak the first word; as the gingerbread maiden had
thought。 Ah; how much there was for him in that childish story。 As
soon as Sunday arrived; he went again; and felt as if he were about to
enter on holy ground。 Joanna was alone to welcome him; nothing could be more fortunate。
〃I am so glad you are come;〃 she said。 I was thinking of sending
my father for you; but I had a presentiment that you would be here
this evening。 The fact is; I wanted to tell you that I am going to
France。 I shall start on Friday。 It is necessary for me to go there;
if I wish to become a first…rate performer。〃
Poor Knud! it seemed to him as if the whole room was whirling
round with him。 His courage failed; and he felt as if his heart
would burst。 He kept down the tears; but it was easy to see how
sorrowful he was。
〃You honest; faithful soul;〃 she exclaimed; and the words loosened
Knud's tongue; and he told her how truly he had loved her; and that
she must be his wife; and as he said this; he saw Joanna change color;
and turn pale。 She let his hand fall; and said; earnestly and
mournfully; 〃Knud; do not make yourself and me unhappy。 I will
always be a good sister to you; one in whom you can trust; but I can
never be anything more。〃 And she drew her white hand over his
burning forehead; and said; 〃God gives strength to bear a great
deal; if we only strive ourselves to endure。〃
At this moment her stepmother came into the room; and Joanna
said quickly; 〃Knud is so unhappy; because I am going away;〃 and it
appeared as if they had only been talking of her journey。 〃Come; be
a man〃 she added; placing her hand on his shoulder; 〃you are still a
child; and you must be good and reasonable; as you were when we were both children; and played together under the willow…tree。〃
Knud listened; but he felt as if the world had slid out of its
course。 His thoughts were like a loose thread fluttering to and fro in
the wind。 He stayed; although he could not tell whether she had
asked him to do so。 But she was kind and gentle to him; she poured out his tea; and sang to him; but the song had not the old tone in it;
although it was wonderfully beautiful; and made his heart feel ready
to burst。 And then he rose to go。 He did not offer his hand; but she
seized it; and said… 〃Will you not shake hands with your sister at parting; my old playfellow?〃 and she smiled through the tears that were rolling down her cheeks。 Again she repeated the word 〃brother;〃 which was a great consolation certainly; and thus they parted。
She sailed to France; and Knud wandered about the muddy streets of
Copenhagen。 The other journeymen in the shop asked him why he looked so gloomy; and wanted him to go and amuse himself with them; as he was still a young man。 So he went with them to a dancing…room。 He saw many handsome girls there; but none like Joann