按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
In a moment their skees were refastened； and the pair descended the
Falberg by the steep slopes which join the mountain to the valleys of
the Sieg。 Miraculous perception guided their course； or； to speak more
properly； their flight。 When fissures covered with snow intercepted
them； Seraphitus caught Minna in his arms and darted with rapid
motion； lightly as a bird； over the crumbling causeways of the abyss。
Sometimes； while propelling his companion； he deviated to the right or
left to avoid a precipice； a tree； a projecting rock； which he seemed
to see beneath the snow； as an old sailor； familiar with the ocean；
discerns the hidden reefs by the color； the trend； or the eddying of
the water。 When they reached the paths of the Siegdahlen； where they
could fearlessly follow a straight line to regain the ice of the
fiord； Seraphitus stopped Minna。
〃You have nothing to say to me？〃 he asked。
〃I thought you would rather think alone；〃 she answered respectfully。
〃Let us hasten； Minette； it is almost night；〃 he said。
Minna quivered as she heard the voice； now so changed； of her guide；
a pure voice； like that of a young girl； which dissolved the fantastic
dream through which she had been passing。 Seraphitus seemed to be
laying aside his male force and the too keen intellect that flames
from his eyes。 Presently the charming pair glided across the fiord and
reached the snow…field which divides the shore from the first range of
houses； then； hurrying forward as daylight faded； they sprang up the
hill toward the parsonage； as though they were mounting the steps of a
great staircase。
〃My father must be anxious；〃 said Minna。
〃No；〃 answered Seraphitus。
As he spoke the couple reached the porch of the humble dwelling where
Monsieur Becker； the pastor of Jarvis； sat reading while awaiting his
daughter for the evening meal。
〃Dear Monsieur Becker；〃 said Seraphitus； 〃I have brought Minna back to
you safe and sound。〃
〃Thank you； mademoiselle；〃 said the old man； laying his spectacles on
his book； 〃you must be very tired。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said Minna； and as she spoke she felt the soft breath of her
companion on her brow。
〃Dear heart； will you come day after to…morrow evening and take tea
with me？〃
〃Gladly； dear。〃
〃Monsieur Becker； you will bring her； will you not？〃
〃Yes； mademoiselle。〃
Seraphitus inclined his head with a pretty gesture； and bowed to the
old pastor as he left the house。 A few moments later he reached the
great courtyard of the Swedish villa。 An old servant； over eighty
years of age； appeared in the portico bearing a lantern。 Seraphitus
slipped off his snow…shoes with the graceful dexterity of a woman；
then darting into the salon he fell exhausted and motionless on a wide
divan covered with furs。
〃What will you take？〃 asked the old man； lighting the immensely tall
wax…candles that are used in Norway。
〃Nothing； David； I am too weary。〃
Seraphitus unfastened his pelisse lined with sable； threw it over him；
and fell asleep。 The old servant stood for several minutes gazing with
loving eyes at the singular being before him； whose sex it would have
been difficult for any one at that moment to determine。 Wrapped as he
was in a formless garment； which resembled equally a woman's robe and
a man's mantle； it was impossible not to fancy that the slender feet
which hung at the side of the couch were those of a woman； and equally
impossible not to note how the forehead and the outlines of the head
gave evidence of power brought to its highest pitch。
〃She suffers； and she will not tell me；〃 thought the old man。 〃She is
dying； like a flower wilted by the burning sun。〃
And the old man wept。
CHAPTER II
SERAPHITA
Later in the evening David re…entered the salon。
〃I know who it is you have come to announce；〃 said Seraphita in a
sleepy voice。 〃Wilfrid may enter。〃
Hearing these words a man suddenly presented himself； crossed the room
and sat down beside her。
〃My dear Seraphita； are you ill？〃 he said。 〃You look paler than
usual。〃
She turned slowly towards him； tossing back her hair like a pretty
woman whose aching head leaves her no strength even for complaint。
〃I was foolish enough to cross the fiord with Minna；〃 she said。 〃We
ascended the Falberg。〃
〃Do you mean to kill yourself？〃 he said with a lover's terror。
〃No； my good Wilfrid； I took the greatest care of your Minna。〃
Wilfrid struck his hand violently on a table； rose hastily； and made
several steps towards the door with an exclamation full of pain； then
he returned and seemed about to remonstrate。
〃Why this disturbance if you think me ill？〃 she said。
〃Forgive me； have mercy！〃 he cried； kneeling beside her。 〃Speak to me
harshly if you will； exact all that the cruel fancies of a woman lead
you to imagine I least can bear； but oh； my beloved； do not doubt my
love。 You take Minna like an axe to hew me down。 Have mercy！〃
〃Why do you say these things； my friend； when you know that they are
useless？〃 she replied； with a look which grew in the end so soft that
Wilfrid ceased to behold her eyes； but saw in their place a fluid
light； the shimmer of which was like the last vibrations of an Italian
song。
〃Ah！ no man dies of anguish！〃 he murmured。
〃You are suffering？〃 she said in a voice whose intonations produced
upon his heart the same effect as that of her look。 〃Would I could
help you！〃
〃Love me as I love you。〃
〃Poor Minna！〃 she replied。
〃Why am I unarmed！〃 exclaimed Wilfrid； violently。
〃You are out of temper；〃 said Seraphita； smiling。 〃Come； have I not
spoken to you like those Parisian women whose loves you tell of？〃
Wilfrid sat down； crossed his arms； and looked gloomily at Seraphita。
〃I forgive you；〃 he said； 〃for you know not what you do。〃
〃You mistake；〃 she replied； 〃every woman from the days of Eve does
good and evil knowingly。〃
〃I believe it〃； he said。
〃I am sure of it； Wilfrid。 Our instinct is precisely that which makes
us perfect。 What you men learn； we feel。〃
〃Why； then； do you not feel how much I love you？〃
〃Because you do not love me。〃
〃Good God！〃
〃If you did； would you complain of your own sufferings？〃
〃You are terrible to…night； Seraphita。 You are a demon。〃
〃No； but I am gifted with the faculty of comprehending； and it is
awful。 Wilfrid； sorrow is a lamp which illumines life。〃
〃Why did you ascend the Falberg？〃
〃Minna will tell you。 I am too weary to talk。 You must talk to me；
you who know so much； who have learned all things and forgotten
nothing； you who have passed through every social test。 Talk to me；
amuse me； I am listening。〃
〃What can I tell you that you do not know？ Besides； the request is
ironical。 You allow yourself no intercourse with social life； you
trample on its conventions； its laws； its customs； sentiments； and
s