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she would have been more deeply grieved； but now she could sleep
soundly； as youth only can sleep。
XII。 EVIL POWERS
Rudy left Bex； and took his way home along the mountain path。
The air was fresh； but cold； for here amidst the deep snow； the Ice
Maiden reigned。 He was so high up that the large trees beneath him；
with their thick foliage； appeared like garden plants； and the pines
and bushes even less。 The Alpine roses grew near the snow； which lay
in detached stripes； and looked like linen laid out to bleach。 A
blue gentian grew in his path； and he crushed it with the butt end
of his gun。 A little higher up； he espied two chamois。 Rudy's eyes
glistened； and his thoughts flew at once in a different direction； but
he was not near enough to take a sure aim。 He ascended still higher；
to a spot where a few rough blades of grass grew between the blocks of
stone and the chamois passed quietly on over the snow…fields。 Rudy
walked hurriedly； while the clouds of mist gathered round him。
Suddenly he found himself on the brink of a precipitous rock。 The rain
was falling in torrents。 He felt a burning thirst； his head was hot；
and his limbs trembled with cold。 He seized his hunting…flask； but
it was empty； he had not thought of filling it before ascending the
mountain。 He had never been ill in his life； nor ever experienced such
sensations as those he now felt。 He was so tired that he could
scarcely resist lying down at his full length to sleep； although the
ground was flooded with the rain。 Yet when he tried to rouse himself a
little； every object around him danced and trembled before his eyes。
Suddenly he observed in the doorway of a hut newly built under the
rock； a young maiden。 He did not remember having seen this hut before；
yet there it stood； and he thought； at first； that the young maiden
was Annette； the schoolmaster's daughter； whom he had once kissed in
the dance。 The maiden was not Annette； yet it seemed as if he had seen
her somewhere before； perhaps near Grindelwald； on the evening of
his return home from Interlachen； after the shooting…match。
〃How did you come here？〃 he asked。
〃I am at home；〃 she replied； 〃I am watching my flocks。〃
〃Your flocks！〃 he exclaimed； 〃where do they find pasture？ There is
nothing here but snow and rocks。〃
〃Much you know of what grows here；〃 she replied； laughing。 〃not
far beneath us there is beautiful pasture…land。 My goats go there。 I
tend them carefully； I never miss one。 What is once mine remains
mine。〃
〃You are bold；〃 said Rudy。
〃And so are you；〃 she answered。
〃Have you any milk in the house？〃 he asked； 〃if so； give me some
to drink； my thirst is intolerable。〃
〃I have something better than milk；〃 she replied； 〃which I will
give you。 Some travellers who were here yesterday with their guide
left behind them a half a flask of wine； such as you have never
tasted。 They will not come back to fetch it； I know； and I shall not
drink it； so you shall have it。〃
Then the maiden went to fetch the wine； poured some into a
wooden cup； and offered it to Rudy。
〃How good it is！〃 said he； 〃I have never before tasted such
warm； invigorating wine。〃 And his eyes sparkled with new life； a
glow diffused itself over his frame； it seemed as if every sorrow；
every oppression were banished from his mind； and a fresh； free nature
were stirring within him。 〃You are surely Annette； the
schoolmaster's daughter；〃 cried he； 〃will you give me a kiss？〃
〃Yes； if you will give me that beautiful ring which you wear on
your finger。〃
〃My betrothal ring？〃 he replied。
〃Yes； just so；〃 said the maiden； as she poured out some more wine；
and held it to his lips。 Again he drank； and a living joy streamed
through every vein。
〃The whole world is mine； why therefore should I grieve？〃
thought he。 〃Everything is created for our enjoyment and happiness。
The stream of life is a stream of happiness； let us flow on with it to
joy and felicity。〃
Rudy gazed on the young maiden； it was Annette； and yet it was not
Annette； still less did he suppose it was the spectral phantom； whom
he had met near Grindelwald。 The maiden up here on the mountain was
fresh as the new fallen snow； blooming as an Alpine rose； and as
nimble…footed as a young kid。 Still； she was one of Adam's race；
like Rudy。 He flung his arms round the beautiful being； and gazed into
her wonderfully clear eyes；… only for a moment； but in that moment
words cannot express the effect of his gaze。 Was it the spirit of life
or of death that overpowered him？ Was he rising higher； or sinking
lower and lower into the deep； deadly abyss？ He knew not； but the
walls of ice shone like blue…green glass； innumerable clefts yawned
around him； and the water…drops tinkled like the chiming of church
bells； and shone clearly as pearls in the light of a pale…blue
flame。 The Ice Maiden； for she it was； kissed him； and her kiss sent a
chill as of ice through his whole frame。 A cry of agony escaped from
him； he struggled to get free； and tottered from her。 For a moment all
was dark before his eyes； but when he opened them again it was
light； and the Alpine maiden had vanished。 The powers of evil had
played their game； the sheltering hut was no more to be seen。 The
water trickled down the naked sides of the rocks； and snow lay thickly
all around。 Rudy shivered with cold； he was wet through to the skin；
and his ring was gone；… the betrothal ring that Babette had given him。
His gun lay near him in the snow； he took it up and tried to discharge
it； but it missed fire。 Heavy clouds lay on the mountain clefts；
like firm masses of snow。 Upon one of these Vertigo sat； lurking after
his powerless prey； and from beneath came a sound as if a piece of
rock had fallen from the cleft； and was crushing everything that stood
in its way or opposed its course。
But； at the miller's； Babette sat alone and wept。 Rudy had not
been to see her for six days。 He who was in the wrong； and who ought
to ask her forgiveness； for did she not love him with her whole heart？
XIII。 AT THE MILL
〃What strange creatures human beings are；〃 said the parlor…cat
to the kitchen…cat； 〃Babette and Rudy have fallen out with each other。
She sits and cries； and he thinks no more about her。〃
〃That does not please me to hear；〃 said the kitchen…cat。
〃Nor me either；〃 replied the parlor…cat； 〃but I do not take it
to heart。 Babette may fall in love with the red whiskers； if she
likes； but he has not been here since he tried to get on the roof。〃
The powers of evil carry on their game both around us and within
us。 Rudy knew this； and thought a great deal about it。 What was it
that had happened to him on the mountain？ Was it really a ghostly
apparition； or a fever dream？ Rudy knew nothing of fever； or any other
ailment。 But； while he judged Babette； he began to examine his own
conduct。 He had allowed wild thoughts to chase each other in his
heart； and a fierce tornado to break loose。 Could he confess to
Babe