tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第12章
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！
been possessed of a strangely patronizing feeling toward him。 She could
not but treat him as if he had been a girl or some person inferior to her in
station。 In spite of his large body； the impression he made upon her was
that of weakness； but she liked the sincerity and kindness which expressed
themselves in his sad smile and large； honest blue eyes。 His gaze
reminded her of that of an ox； but it had not only the ox's dullness； but also
its simplicity and good…nature。
They sat talking on for a while about the weather； the cattle； and the
prospects of the crops。
〃What is your name？〃 she asked； at last。
〃Halvard Hedinson Ullern。〃
A sudden shock ran through her at the sound of that name； in the next
moment a deep blush stole over her countenance。
〃And my name；〃 she said； slowly； 〃is Brita Bjarne's daughter
Blakstad。〃
She fixed her eyes upon him； as if to see what effect her words
produced。 But his features wore the same sad and placid expression； and
no line in his face seemed to betray either surprise or ill…will。 Then her
sense of patronage grew into one of sympathy and pity。 〃He must either
be weak…minded or very unhappy；〃 thought she； 〃and what right have I
then to treat him harshly。〃 And she continued her simple； straightforward
talk with the young man； until he； too； grew almost talkative； and the
sadness of his smile began to give way to something which almost
resembled happiness。 She noticed the change and rejoiced。 At last；
when the sun had sunk behind the western mountain tops； she rose and
bade him good… night； in another moment the door of the saeter… cottage
closed behind her； and he heard her bolting it on the inside。 But for a
long time he remained sitting on the grass； and strange thoughts passed
through his head。 He had quite forgotten his bay mare。
The next evening when the milking was done； and the cattle were
gathered within the saeter enclosure； Brita was again sitting on the large
stone； looking out over the valley。 She felt a kind of companionship with
45
… Page 46…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
the people when she saw the smoke whirling up from their chimneys； and
she could guess what they were going to have for supper。 As she sat
there； she again heard a creaking in the branches； and Halvard Ullern
stood again before her； with his jacket on his arm； and the same bridle in
his hand。
〃You have not found your bay mare yet？〃 she exclaimed； laughingly。
〃And you think she is likely to be in this neighborhood？〃
〃I don't know；〃 he answered； 〃and I don't care if she isn't。〃
He spread his jacket on the grass； and sat down on the spot where he
had sat the night before。 Brita looked at him in surprise and remained
silent； she didn't know how to interpret this second visit。
〃You are very handsome；〃 he said； suddenly； with a gravity which left
no doubt as to his sincerity。
〃Do you think so？〃 she answered； with a merry laugh。 He appeared
to her almost a child； and it never entered her mind to feel offended。 On
the contrary； she was not sure but that she felt pleased。
〃I have thought of you ever since yesterday；〃 he continued； with the
same imperturbable manner。 〃And if you were not angry with me； I
thought I would like to look at you once more。 You are so different from
other folks。〃
〃God bless your foolish talk；〃 cried Brita； with a fresh burst of
merriment。 〃No； indeed I am not angry with you； I should just as soon
think of being angry withwith that calf；〃 she added for want of another
comparison。
〃You think I don't know much；〃 he stammered。 〃And I don't。〃 The
sad smile again settled on his countenance。
A feeling of guilt sent the blood throbbing through her veins。 She
saw that she had done him injustice。 He evidently possessed more sense；
or at least a finer instinct； than she had given him credit for。
〃Halvard；〃 she faltered； 〃if I have offended you； I assure you I didn't
mean to do it； and a thousand times I beg your pardon。〃
〃You haven't offended me； Brita；〃 answered he； blushing like a girl。
〃You are the first one who doesn't make me feel that I am not so wise as
other folks。〃
46
… Page 47…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
She felt it her duty to be open and confiding with him in return； and in
order not to seem ungenerous； or rather to put them on an equal footing by
giving him also a peep into her heart； she told him about her daily work；
about the merry parties at her father's house； and about the lusty lads who
gathered in their halls to dance the Halling and the spring…dance。 He
listened attentively while she spoke； gazing earnestly into her face； but
never interrupting her。 In his turn he described to her in his slow
deliberate way； how his father constantly scolded him because he was not
bright； and did not care for politics and newspapers； and how his mother
wounded him with her sharp tongue by making merry with him； even in
the presence of the servants and strangers。 He did not seem to imagine
that there was anything wrong in what he said； or that he placed himself in
a ludicrous light； nor did he seem to speak from any unmanly craving for
sympathy。 His manner was so simple and straightforward that what Brita
probably would have found strange in another； she found perfectly natural
in him。
It was nearly midnight when they parted｛。｝ She hardly slept at all that
night； and she was half vexed with herself for the interest she took in this
simple youth。 The next morning her father came up to pay her a visit and
to see how the flocks were thriving。 She understood that it would be
dangerous to say anything to him about Halvard； for she knew his temper
and feared the result； if he should ever discover her secret。 Therefore；
she shunned an opportunity to talk with him； and only busied herself the
more with the cattle and the cooking。 Bjarne soon noticed her distraction；
but； of course； never suspected the cause。 Before he left her； he asked
her if she did not find it too lonely on the saeter； and if it would not be
well if he sent her one of the maids for a companion。 She hastened to
assure him that that was quite unnecessary； the cattle…boy who was there
to help her was all the company she wanted。 Toward evening； Bjarne
Blakstad loaded his horses with buckets； filled with cheese and butter； and
started for the valley。 Brita stood long looking after him as he descended
the rocky slope； and she could hardly conceal from herself that she felt
relieved； when； at last； the forest hid him from her sight。 All day she had
been walking about with a heavy heart； there seemed to be something
47
… Page 48…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
weighing on her breast； and she could not throw it off。 Who was this
who had come between her and her father？ Had she ever been afraid of
him before； had she been glad to have him leave her？ A sudden
bitterness took possession of her； for in her distress； she gave Halvard the
blame for all that had happened。 She threw herself down on the grass
and burst into a passionate fit of weeping； she was guilty； wretchedly
miserable； and all for the sake of one whom she had hardly known for two
days。 If he should come in this moment； she would tell him what he had
done toward her； and her wish must have been heard； for as she raised her
eyes； he stood there at her side； the sad feature about his mouth and his
great honest eyes gazing wonderingly at her。 She felt her purpose melt
within her； he looked so good and so unhappy。 Then again came the
thought of her father and of her own wrong； and the bitterness again
revived。
〃Go away；〃 cried she； in a voice half reluctantly tender and half defiant。
〃Go away； I say； I don't want to see you any more。〃
〃I will go to the end of the world if you wish it；〃 he answered； with a
strange firmness。
He picked up his jacket which he had dropped on the ground； then
turned slowly； gave her mother long look； an infinitely sad and hopeless
one； and went。 Her bosom heaved violently remorse； affection and
filial duty wrestled desperately in her heart。
〃No； no；〃 she cried； 〃why do you go？ I did not mean it so。 I only
wanted〃
He paused and returned as deliberately as he had gone。
Why should I dwell upon the days that followed how her heart grew
ever more restless； how she would suddenly wake up at nights and see
those large blue eyes sadly gazing at her； how by turns she would
condemn herself and him； and how she felt with bitter pain that she was
growing away from those who had hitherto been nearest and dearest to her。
And strange to say； this very isolation from her father made her cling only
the more desperately to him。 It seemed to her as if Bjarne had
deliberately thrown her off； that she herself had been the one who took the
first step had hardly occurred to her。 Alas； her grief was as irrational as
48
… Page 49…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
her love。 By what strange devious process of reasoning these convictions
became settled in her mind； it is difficult to tell。 It is sufficient to know
that she was a woman and that she loved。 She even knew herself that she
was irrational； and this very sense drew her more hopelessly into the maz
