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questioned） she unrolled before their eyes a Divine Perspective；as
an organ fills a church with sonorous sound and reveals a musical
universe； its solemn tones rising to the loftiest arches and playing；
like light； upon their foliated capitals；Wilfrid returned to his own
room； awed by the sight of a world in ruins； and on those ruins the
brilliance of mysterious lights poured forth in torrents by the hand
of a young girl。 On the morrow he still thought of these things； but
his awe was gone； he felt he was neither destroyed nor changed； his
passions； his ideas awoke in full force； fresh and vigorous。 He went
to breakfast with Monsieur Becker and found the old man absorbed in
the 〃Treatise on Incantations；〃 which he had searched since early
morning to convince his guest that there was nothing unprecedented in
all that they had seen and heard at the Swedish castle。 With the
childlike trustfulness of a true scholar he had folded down the pages
in which Jean Wier related authentic facts which proved the
possibility of the events that had happened the night before；for to
learned men an idea is a event； just as the greatest events often
present no idea at all to them。 By the time they had swallowed their
fifth cup of tea； these philosophers had come to think the mysterious
scene of the preceding evening wholly natural。 The celestial truths to
which they had listened were arguments susceptible of examination；
Seraphita was a girl； more or less eloquent； allowance must be made
for the charms of her voice； her seductive beauty； her fascinating
motions； in short； for all those oratorical arts by which an actor
puts a world of sentiment and thought into phrases which are often
commonplace。
〃Bah！〃 said the worthy pastor； making a philosophical grimace as he
spread a layer of salt butter on his slice of bread； 〃the final word
of all these fine enigmas is six feet under ground。〃
〃But；〃 said Wilfrid； sugaring his tea； 〃I cannot image how a young
girl of seventeen can know so much； what she said was certainly a
compact argument。〃
〃Read the account of that Italian woman；〃 said Monsieur Becker； 〃who
at the age of twelve spoke forty…two languages； ancient and modern；
also the history of that monk who could guess thought by smell。 I can
give you a thousand such cases from Jean Wier and other writers。〃
〃I admit all that； dear pastor； but to my thinking； Seraphita would
make a perfect wife。〃
〃She is all mind；〃 said Monsieur Becker； dubiously。
Several days went by； during which the snow in the valleys melted
gradually away； the green of the forests and of the grass began to
show； Norwegian Nature made ready her wedding garments for her brief
bridal of a day。 During this period； when the softened air invited
every one to leave the house； Seraphita remained at home in solitude。
When at last she admitted Minna the latter saw at once the ravages of
inward fever； Seraphita's voice was hollow； her skin pallid； hitherto
a poet might have compared her lustre to that of diamonds；now it was
that of a topaz。
〃Have you seen her？〃 asked Wilfrid； who had wandered around the
Swedish dwelling waiting for Minna's return。
〃Yes；〃 answered the young girl； weeping； 〃We must lose him！〃
〃Mademoiselle；〃 cried Wilfrid； endeavoring to repress the loud tones
of his angry voice； 〃do not jest with me。 You can love Seraphita only
as one young girl can love another； and not with the love which she
inspires in me。 You do not know your danger if my jealousy were really
aroused。 Why can I not go to her？ Is it you who stand in my way？〃
〃I do not know by what right you probe my heart；〃 said Minna； calm in
appearance； but inwardly terrified。 〃Yes； I love him；〃 she said；
recovering the courage of her convictions； that she might； for once；
confess the religion of her heart。 〃But my jealousy； natural as it is
in love； fears no one here below。 Alas！ I am jealous of a secret
feeling that absorbs him。 Between him and me there is a great gulf
fixed which I cannot cross。 Would that I knew who loves him best； the
stars or I！ which of us would sacrifice our being most eagerly for his
happiness！ Why should I not be free to avow my love？ In the presence
of death we may declare our feelings；and Seraphitus is about to
die。〃
〃Minna； you are mistaken； the siren I so love and long for； she； whom
I have seen； feeble and languid； on her couch of furs； is not a young
man。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 answered Minna； distressfully； 〃the being whose powerful
hand guided me on the Falberg； who led me to the saeter sheltered
beneath the Ice…Cap； there〃 she said； pointing to the peak； 〃is not
a feeble girl。 Ah； had you but heard him prophesying！ His poem was the
music of thought。 A young girl never uttered those solemn tones of a
voice which stirred my soul。〃
〃What certainty have you？〃 said Wilfrid。
〃None but that of the heart；〃 answered Minna。
〃And I；〃 cried Wilfrid； casting on his companion the terrible glance
of the earthly desire that kills； 〃I； too； know how powerful is her
empire over me； and I will undeceive you。〃
At this moment； while the words were rushing from Wilfrid's lips as
rapidly as the thoughts surged in his brain； they saw Seraphita coming
towards them from the house； followed by David。 The apparition calmed
the man's excitement。
〃Look；〃 he said； 〃could any but a woman move with that grace and
langor？〃
〃He suffers； he comes forth for the last time；〃 said Minna。
David went back at a sign from his mistress； who advanced towards
Wilfrid and Minna。
〃Let us go to the falls of the Sieg；〃 she said； expressing one of
those desires which suddenly possess the sick and which the well
hasten to obey。
A thin white mist covered the valleys around the fiord and the sides
of the mountains； whose icy summits； sparkling like stars； pierced the
vapor and gave it the appearance of a moving milky way。 The sun was
visible through the haze like a globe of red fire。 Though winter still
lingered； puffs of warm air laden with the scent of the birch…trees；
already adorned with their rosy efflorescence； and of the larches；
whose silken tassels were beginning to appear；breezes tempered by
the incense and the sighs of earth；gave token of the glorious
Northern spring； the rapid； fleeting joy of that most melancholy of
Natures。 The wind was beginning to lift the veil of mist which half…
obscured the gulf。 The birds sang。 The bark of the trees where the sun
had not yet dried the clinging hoar…frost shone gayly to the eye in
its fantastic wreathings which trickled away in murmuring rivulets as
the warmth reached them。 The three friends walked in silence along the
shore。 Wilfrid and Minna alone noticed the magic transformation that
was taking place in the monotonous picture of the winter landscape。
Their companion walked in thought； as though a voice were sounding to
her ears in this concert of Nature。
Presently they reached the led