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Wilfrid bent toward Monsieur Becker and said in a low voice； 〃Who
taught her that？〃
〃I do not know；〃 he answered。
〃He was gentler on the Falberg；〃 Minna whispered to herself。
Seraphita passed her hand across her eyes and then she said；
smiling：
〃You are very thoughtful to…night； gentlemen。 You treat Minna and me
as though we were men to whom you must talk politics or commerce；
whereas we are young girls； and you ought to tell us tales while you
drink your tea。 That is what we do； Monsieur Wilfrid； in our long
Norwegian evenings。 Come； dear pastor； tell me some Saga that I have
not heard；that of Frithiof； the chronicle that you believe and have
so often promised me。 Tell us the story of the peasant lad who owned
the ship that talked and had a soul。 Come！ I dream of the frigate
Ellida； the fairy with the sails young girls should navigate！〃
〃Since we have returned to the regions of Jarvis；〃 said Wilfrid； whose
eyes were fastened on Seraphita as those of a robber； lurking in the
darkness； fasten on the spot where he knows the jewels lie； 〃tell me
why you do not marry？〃
〃You are all born widows and widowers；〃 she replied； 〃but my marriage
was arranged at my birth。 I am betrothed。〃
〃To whom？〃 they cried。
〃Ask not my secret；〃 she said； 〃I will promise； if our father permits
it； to invite you to these mysterious nuptials。〃
〃Will they be soon？〃
〃I think so。〃
A long silence followed these words。
〃The spring has come！〃 said Seraphita； suddenly。 〃The noise of the
waters and the breaking of the ice begins。 Come； let us welcome the
first spring of the new century。〃
She rose； followed by Wilfrid； and together they went to a window
which David had opened。 After the long silence of winter； the waters
stirred beneath the ice and resounded through the fiord like music；
for there are sounds which space refines； so that they reach the ear
in waves of light and freshness。
〃Wilfrid； cease to nourish evil thoughts whose triumph would be hard
to bear。 Your desires are easily read in the fire of your eyes。 Be
kind； take one step forward in well…doing。 Advance beyond the love of
man and sacrifice yourself completely to the happiness of her you
love。 Obey me； I will lead you in a path where you shall obtain the
distinctions which you crave； and where Love is infinite indeed。〃
She left him thoughtful。
〃That soft creature！〃 he said within himself； 〃is she indeed the
prophetess whose eyes have just flashed lightnings； whose voice has
rung through worlds； whose hand has wielded the axe of doubt against
our sciences？ Have we been dreaming？ Am I awake？〃
〃Minna；〃 said Seraphita； returning to the young girl； 〃the eagle
swoops where the carrion lies； but the dove seeks the mountain spring
beneath the peaceful greenery of the glades。 The eagle soars to
heaven； the dove descends from it。 Cease to venture into regions where
thou canst find no spring of waters； no umbrageous shade。 If on the
Falberg thou couldst not gaze into the abyss and live； keep all thy
strength for him who will love thee。 Go； poor girl； thou knowest； I am
betrothed。〃
Minna rose and followed Seraphita to the window where Wilfrid stood。
All three listened to the Sieg bounding out the rush of the upper
waters； which brought down trees uprooted by the ice； the fiord had
regained its voice； all illusions were dispelled！ They rejoiced in
Nature as she burst her bonds and seemed to answer with sublime accord
to the Spirit whose breath had wakened her。
When the three guests of this mysterious being left the house； they
were filled with the vague sensation which is neither sleep； nor
torpor； nor astonishment； but partakes of the nature of each；a state
that is neither dusk nor dawn； but which creates a thirst for light。
All three were thinking。
〃I begin to believe that she is indeed a Spirit hidden in human form；〃
said Monsieur Becker。
Wilfrid； re…entering his own apartments； calm and convinced； was
unable to struggle against that influence so divinely majestic。
Minna said in her heart； 〃Why will he not let me love him！〃
CHAPTER V
FAREWELL
There is in man an almost hopeless phenomenon for thoughtful minds who
seek a meaning in the march of civilization； and who endeavor to give
laws of progression to the movement of intelligence。 However
portentous a fact may be； or even supernatural；if such facts exist；
however solemnly a miracle may be done in sight of all； the
lightning of that fact； the thunderbolt of that miracle is quickly
swallowed up in the ocean of life； whose surface； scarcely stirred by
the brief convulsion； returns to the level of its habitual flow。
A Voice is heard from the jaws of an Animal； a Hand writes on the wall
before a feasting Court； an Eye gleams in the slumber of a king； and a
Prophet explains the dream； Death； evoked； rises on the confines of
the luminous sphere were faculties revive； Spirit annihilates Matter
at the foot of that mystic ladder of the Seven Spiritual Worlds； one
resting upon another in space and revealing themselves in shining
waves that break in light upon the steps of the celestial Tabernacle。
But however solemn the inward Revelation； however clear the visible
outward Sign； be sure that on the morrow Balaam doubts both himself
and his ass； Belshazzar and Pharoah call Moses and Daniel to qualify
the Word。 The Spirit； descending； bears man above this earth； opens
the seas and lets him see their depths； shows him lost species； wakens
dry bones whose dust is the soil of valleys； the Apostle writes the
Apocalypse； and twenty centuries later human science ratifies his
words and turns his visions into maxims。 And what comes of it all？ Why
this；that the peoples live as they have ever lived； as they lived in
the first Olympiad； as they lived on the morrow of Creation； and on
the eve of the great cataclysm。 The waves of Doubt have covered all
things。 The same floods surge with the same measured motion on the
human granite which serves as a boundary to the ocean of intelligence。
When man has inquired of himself whether he has seen that which he has
seen； whether he has heard the words that entered his ears； whether
the facts were facts and the idea is indeed an idea； then he resumes
his wonted bearing； thinks of his worldly interests； obeys some envoy
of death and of oblivion whose dusky mantle covers like a pall an
ancient Humanity of which the moderns retain no memory。 Man never
pauses； he goes his round； he vegetates until the appointed day when
his Axe falls。 If this wave force； this pressure of bitter waters
prevents all progress； no doubt it also warns of death。 Spirits
prepared by faith among the higher souls of earth can alone perceive
the mystic ladder of Jacob。
After listening to Seraphita's answer in which （being earnestly
questioned） she unrolled before their eyes a Divine Perspective；as
an organ fills a church w