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finished till Christmas。〃 Neither was it finished till Christmas。
The wind whirled the faded； fallen leaves； the snow drifted in the
valleys； as well as upon the mountains； and the Ice Maiden sat in
the stately palace which； in winter time； she generally occupied。
The perpendicular rocks were covered with slippery ice； and where in
summer the stream from the rocks had left a watery veil； icicles large
and heavy hung from the trees； while the snow…powdered fir…trees
were decorated with fantastic garlands of crystal。 The Ice Maiden rode
on the howling wind across the deep valleys； the country； as far as
Bex； was covered with a carpet of snow； so that the Ice Maiden could
follow Rudy； and see him； when he visited the mill； and while in the
room at the miller's house； where he was accustomed to spend so much
of his time with Babette。 The wedding was to take place in the
following summer； and they heard enough of it； for so many of their
friends spoke of the matter。
Then came sunshine to the mill。 The beautiful Alpine roses
bloomed； and joyous； laughing Babette； was like the early spring；
which makes all the birds sing of summer time and bridal days。
〃How those two do sit and chatter together；〃 said the
parlor…cat； 〃I have had enough of their mewing。〃
IX。 THE ICE MAIDEN
The walnut and chestnut trees； which extend from the bridge of St。
Maurice； by the river Rhone； to the shores of the lake of Geneva； were
already covered with the delicate green garlands of early spring； just
bursting into bloom； while the Rhone rushed wildly from its source
among the green glaciers which form the ice palace of the Ice
Maiden。 She sometimes allows herself to be carried by the keen wind to
the lofty snow…fields； where she stretches herself in the sunshine
on the soft snowy…cushions。 From thence she throws her far…seeing
glance into the deep valley beneath； where human beings are busily
moving about like ants on a stone in the sun。 〃Spirits of strength； as
the children of the sun call you；〃 cried the Ice Maiden； 〃ye are but
worms！ Let but a snow…ball roll； and you and your houses and your
towns are crushed and swept away。〃 And she raised her proud head；
and looked around her with eyes that flashed death from their
glance。 From the valley came a rumbling sound； men were busily at work
blasting the rocks to form tunnels； and laying down roads for the
railway。 〃They are playing at work underground； like moles；〃 said she。
〃They are digging passages beneath the earth； and the noise is like
the reports of cannons。 I shall throw down my palaces； for the
clamor is louder than the roar of thunder。〃 Then there ascended from
the valley a thick vapor； which waved itself in the air like a
fluttering veil。 It rose； as a plume of feathers； from a steam engine；
to which； on the lately…opened railway； a string of carriages was
linked； carriage to carriage； looking like a winding serpent。 The
train shot past with the speed of an arrow。 〃They play at being
masters down there； those spirits of strength！〃 exclaimed the Ice
Maiden； 〃but the powers of nature are still the rulers。〃 And she
laughed and sang till her voice sounded through the valley； and people
said it was the rolling of an avalanche。 But the children of the sun
sang in louder strains in praise of the mind of man； which can span
the sea as with a yoke； can level mountains； and fill up valleys。 It
is the power of thought which gives man the mastery over nature。
Just at this moment there came across the snow…field； where the
Ice Maiden sat； a party of travellers。 They had bound themselves
fast to each other； so that they looked like one large body on the
slippery plains of ice encircling the deep abyss。
〃Worms！〃 exclaimed the Ice Maiden。 〃You； the lords of the powers
of nature！〃 And she turned away and looked maliciously at the deep
valley where the railway train was rushing by。 〃There they sit；
these thoughts！〃 she exclaimed。 〃There they sit in their power over
nature's strength。 I see them all。 One sits proudly apart； like a
king； others sit together in a group； yonder； half of them are asleep；
and when the steam dragon stops； they will get out and go their way。
The thoughts go forth into the world；〃 and she laughed。
〃There goes another avalanche；〃 said those in the valley beneath。
〃It will not reach us；〃 said two who sat together behind the steam
dragon。 〃Two hearts and one beat；〃 as people say。 They were Rudy and
Babette； and the miller was with them。 〃I am like the luggage；〃 said
he； 〃I am here as a necessary appendage。〃
〃There sit those two；〃 said the Ice Maiden。 〃Many a chamois have I
crushed。 Millions of Alpine roses have I snapped and broken off； not a
root have I spared。 I know them all； and their thoughts； those spirits
of strength！〃 and again she laughed。
〃There rolls another avalanche；〃 said those in the valley。
X。 THE GODMOTHER
At Montreux； one of the towns which encircle the northeast part of
the lake of Geneva； lived Babette's godmother； the noble English lady；
with her daughters and a young relative。 They had only lately arrived；
yet the miller had paid them a visit； and informed them of Babette's
engagement to Rudy。 The whole story of their meeting at Interlachen；
and his brave adventure with the eaglet； were related to them； and
they were all very much interested； and as pleased about Rudy and
Babette as the miller himself。 The three were invited to come to
Montreux； it was but right for Babette to become acquainted with her
godmother； who wished to see her very much。 A steam…boat started
from the town of Villeneuve； at one end of the lake of Geneva； and
arrived at Bernex； a little town beyond Montreux； in about half an
hour。 And in this boat； the miller； with his daughter and Rudy； set
out to visit her godmother。 They passed the coast which has been so
celebrated in song。 Here； under the walnut…trees； by the deep blue
lake； sat Byron； and wrote his melodious verses about the prisoner
confined in the gloomy castle of Chillon。 Here； where Clarens； with
its weeping…willows； is reflected in the clear water； wandered
Rousseau； dreaming of Heloise。 The river Rhone glides gently by
beneath the lofty snow…capped hills of Savoy； and not far from its
mouth lies a little island in the lake； so small that； seen from the
shore； it looks like a ship。 The surface of the island is rocky； and
about a hundred years ago； a lady caused the ground to be covered with
earth； in which three acacia…trees were planted； and the whole
enclosed with stone walls。 The acacia…trees now overshadow every
part of the island。 Babette was enchanted with the spot； it seemed
to her the most beautiful object in the whole voyage； and she
thought how much she should like to land there。 But the steam…ship
passed it by； and did not stop till it reached Bernex。 The little
party walked slowly from this place to Montreux； passing the sun…lit
walls with which the vineyards of the little mountain town of Montreux
are surrounded； and peas