tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第34章
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formidable height of six feet four or five； she could no longer master her
mirth； but burst out into a most vehement fit of laughter。 He stood calm
and silent； and looked at her with a timid but strangely bitter smile。 He
was so very different from any man she had ever seen before； therefore
she laughed； not necessarily because he amused her； but because his whole
person was a surprise to her； and there he stood； tall and gaunt and timid；
and said not a word； only gazed and gazed。 His dress was not the
national costume of the valley； neither was it like anything that Aasa had
ever known。 On his head he wore a cap that hung all on one side； and
was decorated with a long； heavy silk tassel。 A threadbare coat； which
seemed to be made expressly not to fit him； hung loosely on his sloping
shoulders； and a pair of gray pantaloons； which were narrow where they
ought to have been wide； and wide where it was their duty to be narrow；
extended their service to a little more than the upper half of the limb； and；
by a kind of compromise with the tops of the boots； managed to protect
also the lower half。 His features were delicate； and would have been
called handsome had they belonged to a proportionately delicate body； in
his eyes hovered a dreamy vagueness which seemed to come and vanish；
and to flit from one feature to another； suggesting the idea of remoteness；
and a feeling of hopeless strangeness to the world and all its concerns。
〃Do I inconvenience you； madam？〃 were the first words he uttered； as
Aasa in her usual abrupt manner stayed her laughter； turned her back on
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him； and hastily started for the house。
〃Inconvenience？〃 said she； surprised； and again slowly turned on her
heel； 〃no； not that I know。〃
〃Then tell me if there are people living here in the neighborhood； or if
the light deceived me； which I saw from the other side of the river。〃
〃Follow me；〃 answered Aasa； and she navely reached him her
hand； 〃my father's name is Lage Ulfson Kvaerk； he lives in the large house
you see straight before you； there on the hill； and my mother lives there
too。〃
And hand in hand they walked together； where a path had been made
between two adjoining rye…fields； his serious smile seemed to grow milder
and happier； the longer he lingered at her side； and her eye caught a ray of
more human intelligence； as it rested on him。
〃What do you do up here in the long winter？〃 asked he； after a pause。
〃We sing；〃 answered she； as it were at ran… dom； because the word
came into her mind； 〃and what do you do； where you come from？〃
〃I gather song。〃
〃Have you ever heard the forest sing？〃 asked she； curiously。
〃That is why I came here。〃
And again they walked on in silence。
It was near midnight when they entered the large hall at Kvaerk。
Aasa went before； still leading the young man by the hand。 In the
twilight which filled the house； the space between the black； smoky rafters
opened a vague vista into the region of the fabulous； and every object in
the room loomed forth from the dusk with exaggerated form and
dimensions。 The room appeared at first to be but the haunt of the spirits
of the past； no human voice； no human footstep； was heard； and the
stranger instinctively pressed the hand he held more tightly； for he was not
sure but that he was standing on the boundary of dream…land； and some
elfin maiden had reached him her hand to lure him into her mountain；
where he should live with her forever。 But the illusion was of brief
duration； for Aasa's thoughts had taken a widely different course； it was
but seldom she had found herself under the necessity of making a decision；
and now it evidently devolved upon her to find the stranger a place of rest
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for the night； so instead of an elf…maid's kiss and a silver palace； he soon
found himself huddled into a dark little alcove in the wall； where he was
told to go to sleep； while Aasa wandered over to the empty cow…stables；
and threw herself down in the hay by the side of two sleeping milkmaids。
III。
There was not a little astonishment manifested among the servant…
maids at Kvaerk the next morning； when the huge； gaunt figure of a man
was seen to launch forth from Aasa's alcove； and the strangest of all was；
that Aasa herself appeared to be as much astonished as the rest。 And
there they stood； all gazing at the bewildered traveler； who indeed was no
less startled than they； and as utterly unable to account for his own sudden
apparition。 After a long pause； he summoned all his courage； fixed his
eyes intently on the group of the girls； and with a few rapid steps advanced
toward Aasa； whom he seized by the hand and asked； 〃Are you not my
maiden of yester…eve？〃
She met his gaze firmly； and laid her hand on her forehead as if to
clear her thoughts； as the memory of the night flashed through her mind； a
bright smile lit up her features； and she answered； 〃You are the man who
gathers song。 Forgive me； I was not sure but it was all a dream； for I
dream so much。〃
Then one of the maids ran out to call Lage Ulfson； who had gone to
the stables to harness the horses； and he came and greeted the unknown
man； and thanked him for last meeting； as is the wont of Norse peasants；
although they had never seen each other until that morning。 But when
the stranger had eaten two meals in Lage's house； Lage asked him his
name and his father's occupation； for old Norwegian hospitality forbids
the host to learn the guest's name before he has slept and eaten under his
roof。 It was that same afternoon； when they sat together smoking their
pipes under the huge old pine in the yard；it was then Lage inquired about
the young man's name and family； and the young man said that his name
was Trond Vigfusson； that he had graduated at the University of
Christiania； and that his father had been a lieutenant in the army； but both
he and Trond's mother had died； when Trond was only a few years old。
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Lage then told his guest Vigfusson something about his family； but of the
legend of Asathor and Saint Olaf he spoke not a word。 And while they
were sitting there talking together； Aasa came and sat down at Vigfusson's
feet； her long golden hair flowed in a waving stream down over her back
and shoulders； there was a fresh； healthful glow on her cheeks； and her
blue； fathomless eyes had a strangely joyous； almost triumphant
expression。 The father's gaze dwelt fondly upon her； and the collegian
was but conscious of one thought： that she was wondrously beautiful。
And still so great was his natural timidity and awkwardness in the
presence of women； that it was only with the greatest difficulty he could
master his first impulse to find some excuse for leaving her。 She；
however； was aware of no such restraint。
〃You said you came to gather song；〃 she said； 〃where do you find it？
for I too should like to find some new melody for my old thoughts； I have
searched so long。〃
〃I find my songs on the lips of the people；〃 answered he； 〃and I write
them down as the maidens or the old men sing them。〃
She did not seem quite to comprehend that。 〃Do you hear maidens
sing them？〃 asked she； astonished。 〃Do you mean the troll…virgins and
the elf…maidens？〃
〃By troll…virgins and elf…maidens； or what the legends call so； I
understand the hidden and still audible voices of nature； of the dark pine
forests； the legend…haunted glades； and the silent tarns； and this was what I
referred to when I answered your question if I had ever heard the forest
sing。〃
〃Oh； oh！〃 cried she； delighted； and clapped her hands like a child； but
in another moment she as suddenly grew serious again； and sat steadfastly
gazing into his eye； as if she were trying to look into his very soul and
there to find something kindred to her own lonely heart。 A minute ago
her presence had embarrassed him； now； strange to say； he met her eye；
and smiled happily as he met it。
〃Do you mean to say that you make your living by writing songs？〃
asked Lage。
〃The trouble is；〃 answered Vigfusson； 〃that I make no living at all； but
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I have invested a large capital； which is to yield its interest in the future。
There is a treasure of song hidden in every nook and corner of our
mountains and forests； and in our nation's heart。 I am one of the miners
who have come to dig it out before time and oblivion shall have buried
every trace of it； and there shall not be even the will…o'…the… wisp of a
legend to hover over the spot； and keep alive the sad fact of our loss and
our blamable negligence。〃
Here the young man paused； his eyes gleamed； his pale cheeks flushed；
and there was a warmth and an enthusiasm in his words which alarmed
Lage； while on Aasa it worked like the most potent charm of the ancient
mystic runes； she hardly comprehended more than half of the speaker's
meaning； but his fire and eloquence were on this account none the less
powerful。
〃If that is your object；〃 remarked Lage； 〃I think you have hit upon the
right place in coming here。 You will be able to pick up many an odd bit
of a story from the servants and others hereabouts； and you are welcome to
stay here with us as long as you choose。〃
