Involuntarilyhestretchedhishandstowardsit，feltapangofgriefwhenitvanished，leavingonlythegreylight。Hedrewtherustybolts，flungopenthegreatdoor。Astrangeworldlaybeforehim，anewworldoflightsandshadows，thatwooedhimwiththeirbeauty——aworldoflow，softvoicesthatcalledtohim。Therecametohimagainthatbittersenseofhavingbeenrobbed。
\"Icouldhavebeensohappyalltheseyears，\"murmuredoldNicholastohimself。\"ItisjustthelittletownIcouldhaveloved——soquaint，soquiet，sohomelike。Imighthavehadfriends，oldcronies，childrenofmyownmaybe——\"
AvisionofthesleepingChristinaflashedbeforehiseyes。Shehadcometohimachild，feelingonlygratitudetowardshim。Hadhehadeyeswithwhichtoseeher，allthingsmighthavebeendifferent。
Wasittoolate？Heisnotsoold——notsoveryold。Newlifeisinhisveins。ShestilllovesJan，butthatwastheJanofyesterday。
Inthefuture，Jan’severywordanddeedwillbepromptedbytheevilsoulthatwasoncethesoulofNicholasSnyders——thatNicholasSnydersrememberswell。Cananywomanlovethat，letthecasebeashandsomeasyouwill？
Oughthe，asanhonestman，tokeepthesoulhehadwonfromJanbywhatmightbecalledatrick？Yes，ithadbeenafairbargain，andJanhadtakenhisprice。Besides，itwasnotasifJanhadfashionedhisownsoul;thesethingsarechance。Whyshouldonemanbegivengold，andanotherbegivenparchedpeas？HehasasmuchrighttoJan’ssoulasJaneverhad。Heiswiser，hecandomoregoodwithit。
ItwasJan’ssoulthatlovedChristina;letJan’ssoulwinherifitcan。AndJan’ssoul，listeningtotheargument，couldnotthinkofawordtoofferinopposition。
ChristinawasstillasleepwhenNicholasre—enteredthekitchen。Helightedthefireandcookedthebreakfastandthenarousedhergently。
TherewasnodoubtitwasChristina。ThemomenthereyesrestedonoldNicholas，therecamebacktoherthefrightenedrabbitlookthathadalwaysirritatedhim。Itirritatedhimnow，buttheirritationwasagainsthimself。
\"YouweresleepingsosoundlywhenIcameinlastnight——\"Christinacommenced。
\"Andyouwereafraidtowakeme，\"Nicholasinterruptedher。\"Youthoughttheoldcurmudgeonwouldbecross。Listen，Christina。Youpaidoffyesterdaythelastdebtyourfatherowed。Itwastoanoldsailor——Ihadnotbeenabletofindhimbefore。Notacentmoredoyouowe，andthereremainstoyou，outofyourwages，ahundredflorins。Itisyourswheneveryouliketoaskmeforit。\"
Christinacouldnotunderstand，neitherthennorduringthedaysthatfollowed;nordidNicholasenlightenher。ForthesoulofJanhadenteredintoaverywiseoldman，whoknewthatthebestwaytolivedownthepastistoliveboldlythepresent。AllthatChristinacouldbesureofwasthattheoldNicholasSnydershadmysteriouslyvanished，thatinhisplaceremainedanewNicholas，wholookedatherwithkindlyeyes——frankandhonest，compellingconfidence。ThoughNicholasneversaidso，itcametoChristinathatsheherself，hersweetexample，herennoblinginfluenceitwasthathadwroughtthiswondrouschange。AndtoChristinatheexplanationseemednotimpossible——seemedevenpleasing。
Thesightofhislittereddeskwashatefultohim。Startingearlyinthemorning，Nicholaswoulddisappearfortheentireday，returningintheeveningtiredbutcheerful，bringingwithhimflowersthatChristinalaughedat，tellinghimtheywereweeds。Butwhatmatterednames？ToNicholastheywerebeautiful。InZandamthechildrenranfromhim，thedogsbarkedafterhim。SoNicholas，escapingthroughbyways，wouldwanderfarintothecountry。Childreninthevillagesaroundcametoknowakindoldfellowwholovedtolinger，hishandsrestingonhisstaff，watchingtheirplay，listeningtotheirlaughter;whoseamplepocketswerestorehousesofgoodthings。Theirelders，passingby，wouldwhispertooneanotherhowlikehewasinfeaturestowickedoldNick，themiserofZandam，andwouldwonderwherehecamefrom。Norwasitonlythefacesofthechildrenthattaughthislipstosmile。Ittroubledhimatfirsttofindtheworldsofullofmarvellouslyprettygirls——ofprettywomenalso，allmoreorlesslovable。Itbewilderedhim。Untilhefoundthat，notwithstanding，Christinaremainedalwaysinhisthoughtstheprettiest，themostlovableofthemall。Theneveryprettyfacerejoicedhim:itremindedhimofChristina。
Onhisreturnthesecondday，Christinahadmethimwithsadnessinhereyes。FarmerBeerstraater，anoldfriendofherfather’s，hadcalledtoseeNicholas;notfindingNicholas，hadtalkedalittlewithChristina。Ahardheartedcreditorwasturninghimoutofhisfarm。
ChristinapretendednottoknowthatthecreditorwasNicholashimself，butmarvelledthatsuchwickedmencouldbe。Nicholassaidnothing，butthenextdayFarmerBeerstraaterhadcalledagain，allsmiles，blessings，andgreatwonder。
\"Butwhatcanhavecometohim？\"repeatedFarmerBeerstraateroverandover。
ChristinahadsmiledandansweredthatperhapsthegoodGodhadtouchedhisheart;butthoughttoherselfthatperhapsithadbeenthegoodinfluenceofanother。Thetaleflew。Christinafoundherselfbesiegedoneveryhand，and，findingherintercessionsinvariablysuccessful，grewdaybydaymorepleasedwithherself，andbyconsequencemorepleasedwithNicholasSnyders。ForNicholaswasacunningoldgentleman。Jan’ssoulinhimtookdelightinundoingtheevilthesoulofNicholashadwrought。ButthebrainofNicholasSnydersthatremainedtohimwhispered:\"Letthelittlemaidthinkitisallherdoing。\"
ThenewsreachedtheearsofDameToelast。ThesameeveningsawherseatedintheinglenookoppositeNicholasSnyders，whosmokedandseemedbored。
\"Youaremakingafoolofyourself，NicholasSnyders，\"theDametoldhim。\"Everybodyislaughingatyou。\"
\"Ihadrathertheylaughedthancursedme，\"growledNicholas。
\"Haveyouforgottenallthathaspassedbetweenus？\"demandedtheDame。
\"WishIcould，\"sighedNicholas。
\"Atyourage——\"commencedtheDame。
\"IamfeelingyoungerthanIeverfeltinallmylife，\"Nicholasinterruptedher。
\"Youdon’tlookit，\"commentedtheDame。
\"Whatdolooksmatter？\"snappedNicholas。\"Itisthesoulofamanthatistherealman。\"
\"Theycountforsomething，astheworldgoes，\"explainedtheDame。
\"Why，ifIlikedtofollowyourexampleandmakeafoolofmyself，thereareyoungmen，fineyoungmen，handsomeyoungmen——\"
\"Don’tletmestandinyourway，\"interposedNicholasquickly。\"Asyousay，IamoldandIhaveadevilofatemper。TheremustbemanybettermenthanIam，menmoreworthyofyou。\"
\"Idon’tsaytherearenot，\"returnedtheDame:\"butnobodymoresuitable。Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。Ihaven’tlostmywits，NicholasSnyders，ifyouhave。Whenyouareyourselfagain——\"
NicholasSnyderssprangtohisfeet。\"Iammyself，\"hecried，\"andintendtoremainmyself！WhodaressayIamnotmyself？\"
\"Ido，\"retortedtheDamewithexasperatingcoolness。\"NicholasSnydersisnothimselfwhenatthebiddingofapretty—faceddollheflingshismoneyoutofthewindowwithbothhands。Heisacreaturebewitched，andIamsorryforhim。She’llfoolyouforthesakeofherfriendstillyouhaven’tacentleft，andthenshe’lllaughatyou。Whenyouareyourself，NicholasSnyders，youwillbecrazywithyourself——rememberthat。\"AndDameToelastmarchedoutandslammedthedoorbehindher。
\"Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。\"Thephrasekeptringinginhisears。Hithertohisnew—foundhappinesshadfilledhislife，leavingnoroomforthought。ButtheoldDame’swordshadsowntheseedofreflection。
WasChristinafoolinghim？Thethoughtwasimpossible。Neveroncehadshepleadedforherself，neveronceforJan。TheevilthoughtwasthecreatureofDameToelast’sevilmind。Christinalovedhim。Herfacebrightenedathiscoming。Thefearofhimhadgoneoutofher;aprettytyrannyhadreplacedit。Butwasitthelovethathesought？
Jan’ssoulinoldNick’sbodywasyoungandardent。ItdesiredChristinanotasadaughter，butasawife。CoulditwinherinspiteofoldNick’sbody？ThesoulofJanwasanimpatientsoul。Bettertoknowthantodoubt。
\"Donotlightthecandles;letustalkalittlebythelightofthefireonly，\"saidNicholas。AndChristina，smiling，drewherchairtowardstheblaze。ButNicholassatintheshadow。
\"Yougrowmorebeautifuleveryday，Christina，\"saidNicholas——
\"sweeterandmorewomanly。Hewillbeahappymanwhocallsyouwife。\"
ThesmilepassedfromChristina’sface。\"Ishallnevermarry，\"sheanswered。\"Neverisalongword，littleone。\"
\"Atruewomandoesnotmarrythemanshedoesnotlove。\"
\"Butmayshenotmarrythemanshedoes？\"smiledNicholas。
\"Sometimesshemaynot，\"Christinaexplained。
\"Andwhenisthat？\"
Christina’sfacewasturnedaway。\"Whenhehasceasedtoloveher。\"
ThesoulinoldNick’sbodyleaptwithjoy。\"Heisnotworthyofyou，Christina。Hisnewfortunehaschangedhim。Isitnotso？Hethinksonlyofmoney。Itisasthoughthesoulofamiserhadenteredintohim。HewouldmarryevenDameToelastforthesakeofhergold—bagsandherbroadlandsandhermanymills，ifonlyshewouldhavehim。
Cannotyouforgethim？\"
\"Ishallneverforgethim。Ishallneverloveanotherman。Itrytohideit;andoftenIamcontenttofindthereissomuchintheworldthatIcando。Butmyheartisbreaking。\"Sheroseand，kneelingbesidehim，claspedherhandsaroundhim。\"Iamgladyouhaveletmetellyou，\"shesaid。\"ButforyouIcouldnothaveborneit。Youaresogoodtome。\"
Foranswerhestrokedwithhiswitheredhandthegoldenhairthatfelldisorderedabouthiswitheredknees。Sheraisedhereyestohim;theywerefilledwithtears，butsmiling。
\"Icannotunderstand，\"shesaid。\"Ithinksometimesthatyouandhemusthavechangedsouls。Heishardandmeanandcruel，asyouusedtobe。\"Shelaughed，andthearmsaroundhimtightenedforamoment。
\"Andnowyouarekindandtenderandgreat，asoncehewas。ItisasifthegoodGodhadtakenawaymyloverfrommetogivetomeafather。\"
\"Listentome，Christina，\"hesaid。\"Itisthesoulthatistheman，notthebody。Couldyounotlovemeformynewsoul？\"
\"ButIdoloveyou，\"answeredChristina，smilingthroughhertears。
\"Couldyouasahusband？\"Thefirelightfelluponherface。
Nicholas，holdingitbetweenhiswitheredhands，lookedintoitlongandhard;andreadingwhathereadthere，laiditbackagainsthisbreastandsootheditwithhiswitheredhand。
\"Iwasjesting，littleone，\"hesaid。\"Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。Andso，inspiteofall，youstillloveJan？\"
\"Ilovehim，\"answeredChristina。\"Icannothelpit。\"
\"Andifhewould，youwouldmarryhim，lethissoulbewhatitmay？\"
\"Ilovehim，\"answeredChristina。\"Icannothelpit。\"
OldNicholassatalonebeforethedyingfire。Isitthesoulorthebodythatistherealman？Theanswerwasnotsosimpleashehadthoughtit。
\"ChristinalovedJan\"——soNicholasmumbledtothedyingfire——\"whenhehadthesoulofJan。Sheloveshimstill，thoughhehasthesoulofNicholasSnyders。WhenIaskedherifshecouldloveme，itwasterrorIreadinhereyes，thoughJan’ssoulisnowinme;shedivinedit。ItmustbethebodythatistherealJan，therealNicholas。IfthesoulofChristinaenteredintothebodyofDameToelast，shouldI
turnfromChristina，fromhergoldenhair，herfathomlesseyes，heraskinglips，todesiretheshrivelledcarcassofDameToelast？No;I
shouldstillshudderatthethoughtofher。YetwhenIhadthesoulofNicholasSnyders，Ididnotloatheher，whileChristinawasnaughttome。Itmustbewiththesoulthatwelove，elseJanwouldstillloveChristinaandIshouldbeMiserNick。YethereamIlovingChristina，usingNicholasSnyders’brainandgoldtothwartNicholasSnyders’everyscheme，doingeverythingthatIknowwillmakehimmadwhenhecomesbackintohisownbody;whileJancaresnolongerforChristina，wouldmarryDameToelastforherbroadlands，hermanymills。Clearlyitisthesoulthatistherealman。ThenoughtInottobeglad，thinkingIamgoingbackintomyownbody，knowingthatI
shallwedChristina？ButIamnotglad;Iamverymiserable。IshallnotgowithJan’ssoul，Ifeelit;myownsoulwillcomebacktome。
Ishallbeagainthehard，cruel，meanoldmanIwasbefore，onlynowIshallbepoorandhelpless。Thefolkswilllaughatme，andIshallcursethem，powerlesstodothemevil。EvenDameToelastwillnotwantmewhenshelearnsall。AndyetImustdothisthing。SolongasJan’ssoulisinme，IloveChristinabetterthanmyself。Imustdothisforhersake。Iloveher——Icannothelpit。\"
OldNicholasrose，tookfromtheplace，whereamonthbeforehehadhiddenit，thesilverflaskofcunningworkmanship。
\"Justtwomoreglassfulsleft，\"musedNicholas，ashegentlyshooktheflaskagainsthisear。Helaiditonthedeskbeforehim，thenopenedonceagaintheoldgreenledger，fortherestillremainedworktobedone。
HewokeChristinaearly。\"Taketheseletters，Christina，\"hecommanded。\"Whenyouhavedeliveredthemall，butnotbefore，gotoJan;tellhimIamwaitingheretoseehimonamatterofbusiness。\"
Hekissedherandseemedlothtolethergo。
\"Ishallonlybealittlewhile，\"smiledChristina。
\"Allpartingstakebutalittlewhile，\"heanswered。
OldNicholashadforeseenthetroublehewouldhave。Janwascontent，hadnodesiretobeagainasentimentalyoungfool，eagertosaddlehimselfwithapennilesswife。Janhadotherdreams。
\"Drink，man，drink！\"criedNicholasimpatiently，\"beforeIamtemptedtochangemymind。Christina，providedyoumarryher，istherichestbrideinZandam。Thereisthedeed;readit;andreadquickly。\"
ThenJanconsented，andthetwomendrank。Andtherepassedabreathbetweenthemasbefore;andJanwithhishandscoveredhiseyesamoment。
Itwasapity，perhaps，thathedidso，forinthatmomentNicholassnatchedatthedeedthatlaybesideJanonthedesk。Thenextinstantitwasblazinginthefire。
\"Notsopoorasyouthought！\"camethecroakingvoiceofNicholas。
\"Notsopoorasyouthought！Icanbuildagain，Icanbuildagain！\"
Andthecreature，laughinghideously，dancedwithitswitheredarmsspreadoutbeforetheblaze，lestJanshouldseektorescueChristina’sburningdowrybeforeitwasdestroyed。
JandidnottellChristina。InspiteofallJancouldsay，shewouldgoback。NicholasSnydersdroveherfromthedoorwithcurses。Shecouldnotunderstand。TheonlythingclearwasthatJanhadcomebacktoher。
\"’Twasastrangemadnessthatseizeduponme，\"Janexplained。\"Letthegoodseabreezesbringushealth。\"
SofromthedeckofJan’sshiptheywatchedoldZandamtillitvanishedintoair。
Christinacriedalittleatthethoughtofneverseeingitagain;butJancomfortedherandlaternewfaceshidtheold。
AndoldNicholasmarriedDameToelast，but，happily，livedtodoevilonlyforafewyearslonger。
Longafter，JantoldChristinathewholestory，butitsoundedveryimprobable，andChristina——though，ofcourse，shedidnotsayso——didnotquitebelieveit，butthoughtJanwastryingtoexplainawaythatstrangemonthofhislifeduringwhichhehadwooedDameToelast。YetitcertainlywasstrangethatNicholas，forthesameshortmonth，hadbeensodifferentfromhisusualself。
\"Perhaps，\"thoughtChristina，\"ifIhadnottoldhimIlovedJan，hewouldnothavegonebacktohisoldways。Pooroldgentleman！Nodoubtitwasdespair。\"