Theyearwent,andAsathorreturned。Ifhehadnottoldhisname,however,Lagewouldnothaverecognizedhim。Thatayearcouldworksogreatachangeinagod,hewouldhardlyhavebelieved,ifhisowneyeshadnottestifiedtoit。Asathor’scheekswerepaleandbloodless,thelustreofhiseyemorethanhalfquenched,andhisgrayhairhungindisorderdownoverhisforehead。
\"Methinksthoulookestratherpoorlyto—day,\"
saidLage。
\"Itisonlythosecursedchurch—bells,\"answeredthegod;\"theyleavemenorestdayornight。\"
\"Aha,\"thoughtLage,\"iftheking’sbellsaremightierthanthou,thenthereisstillhopeofsafetyformydaughter。\"
\"WhereisBrynhild,thydaughter?\"askedAsathor。
\"Iknownotwheresheis,\"answeredthefather;andstraightwayheturnedhiseyestowardthegoldencrossthatshoneoverthevalleyfromSaintOlaf’ssteeple,andhecalledaloudontheWhiteChrist’sname。Thenthegodgaveafearfulroar,fellontheground,writhedandfoamedandvanishedintothemountain。InthenextmomentLageheardahoarsevoicecryingfromwithin,\"Ishallreturn,LageUlfson,whenthoushaltleastexpectme!\"
LageUlfsonthensettoworkclearingawaythroughtheforest;andwhenthatwasdone,hecalledallhishouseholdtogether,andtoldthemofthepowerofChristtheWhite。Notlongafterhetookhissonsandhisdaughter,andhastenedwiththemsouthward,untilhefoundKingOlaf。And,sotheSagarelates,theyallfelldownontheirkneesbeforehim,prayedforhisforgiveness,andreceivedbaptismfromtheking’sownbishop。
SoendstheSagaofLageUlfsonKvaerk。
II。
AasaKvaerklovedherfatherwell,butespeciallyinthewinter。Then,whileshesatturningherspinning—wheelinthelightofthecracklinglogs,hissilentpresencealwayshadawonderfullysoothingandcalmingeffectuponher。Sheneverlaughedthen,andseldomwept;
whenshefelthiseyesrestingonher,herthoughts,hersenses,andherwholebeingseemedbydegreestobeluredfromtheirhiding—
placeandconcentrateonhim;andfromhimtheyventuredagain,firsttimidly,thenmoreboldly,tograsptheobjectsaroundhim。AtsuchtimesAasacouldtalkandjestalmostlikeothergirls,andhermother,towhom\"othergirls\"representedtheidealofwomanlyperfection,wouldsendsignificantglances,fullofhopeandencouragement,overtoLage,andhewouldquietlynodinreturn,asiftosaythatheentirelyagreedwithher。ThenElsiehadbrightvisionsofwooersandthriftyhousewives,andevenLagedreamedofseeingtheancienthonorofthefamilyre—established。AlldependedonAasa。Shewasthelastofthemightyrace。
Butwhensummercame,thebrightvisionsfled;
andthespringwinds,whichtoothersbringlifeandjoy,toKvaerkbroughtnothingbutsorrow。
Nosoonerhadthemountainbrooksbeguntoswell,thanAasabegantolaughandtoweep;
andwhenthefirstbirchesbuddedupintheglens,shecouldnolongerbekeptathome。
Prayersandthreatswereequallyuseless。Fromearlydawnuntileveningshewouldroamaboutinforestsandfields,andwhenlateatnightshestoleintotheroomandslippedawayintosomecorner,Lagedrewadeepsighandthoughtoftheoldtradition。
Aasawasnineteenyearsoldbeforeshehadasinglewooer。Butwhenshewasleastexpectingit,thewooercametoher。
Itwaslateonesummernight;theyoungmaidenwassittingonthebrinkoftheravine,ponderingontheoldlegendandpeeringdownintothedeepbelow。Itwasnotthefirsttimeshehadfoundherwayhither,wherebutseldomahumanfoothaddaredtotread。Tohereveryalderandbramble—bush,thatclothedthenakedwalloftherock,wereasfamiliarasweretheknotsandveinsintheceilingofthechamberwherefromherchildhoodshehadslept;andasshesatthereonthebrinkoftheprecipice,thelatesummersunthrewitsredlustreuponheranduponthefogsthatcamedriftingupfromthedeep。Withhereyesshefollowedthedriftingmassesoffog,andwondered,astheyrosehigherandhigher,whentheywouldreachher;inherfancyshesawherselfdancingoverthewideexpanseofheaven,cladinthesun—gildedeveningfogs;andSaintOlaf,thegreatandholyking,cameridingtomeether,mountedonaflamingsteedmadeofthegloryofathousandsunsets;thenSaintOlaftookherhandandliftedherup,andshesatwithhimontheflamingsteed:butthefoglingeredinthedeepbelow,andasitroseitspreadlikeathin,half—invisiblegauzeovertheforestsandthefields,andatlastvanishedintotheinfinitespace。Buthark!ahugestonerollsdownoverthemountain—side,thenanother,andanother;
thenoisegrows,thebirchesdownthereinthegorgetrembleandshake。Aasaleanedoutoverthebrinkoftheravine,and,asfarasshecoulddistinguishanythingfromherdizzyingheight,thoughtshesawsomethinggraycreepingslowlyuptheneck—breakingmountainpath;shewatcheditforawhile,butasitseemedtoadvancenofarthersheagaintookrefugeinherreveries。Anhourmighthavepassed,orperhapsmore,whensuddenlysheheardanoiseonlyafewfeetdistant,and,againstoopingoutoverthebrink,sawthefigureofamanstrug—
glingdesperatelytoclimbthelastgreatledgeoftherock。Withbothhishandsheclungtoalittlebirch—treewhichstretcheditsslenderarmsdownovertheblackwall,butwitheverymomentthatpassedseemedlesslikelytoaccomplishthefeat。Thegirlforawhilestoodwatchinghimwithunfeignedcuriosity,then,suddenlyremindingherselfthatthesituationtohimmustbeadangerousone,seizedholdofatreethatgrewnearthebrink,andleanedoutovertherocktogivehimherassistance。
Heeagerlygraspedherextendedhand,andwithavigorouspullsheflunghimuponthegrassylevel,whereheremainedlyingforaminuteortwo,apparentlyutterlyunabletoaccountforhissuddenascent,andgazingaroundhimwithahalf—frightened,half—bewilderedlook。Aasa,towhomhisappearancewasnolessstrangethanhisdemeanor,unluckilyhitupontheideathatperhapsherratherviolenttreatmenthadmomentarilystunnedhim,andwhen,asanswertohersympathizingquestionifhewashurt,thestrangerabruptlyrosetohisfeetandtoweredupbeforehertotheformidableheightofsixfeetfourorfive,shecouldnolongermasterhermirth,butburstoutintoamostvehementfitoflaughter。Hestoodcalmandsilent,andlookedatherwithatimidbutstrangelybittersmile。Hewassoverydifferentfromanymanshehadeverseenbefore;
thereforeshelaughed,notnecessarilybecauseheamusedher,butbecausehiswholepersonwasasurprisetoher;andtherehestood,tallandgauntandtimid,andsaidnotaword,onlygazedandgazed。Hisdresswasnotthenationalcostumeofthevalley,neitherwasitlikeanythingthatAasahadeverknown。Onhisheadheworeacapthathungallononeside,andwasdecoratedwithalong,heavysilktassel。
Athreadbarecoat,whichseemedtobemadeexpresslynottofithim,hunglooselyonhisslopingshoulders,andapairofgraypantaloons,whichwerenarrowwheretheyoughttohavebeenwide,andwidewhereitwastheirdutytobenarrow,extendedtheirservicetoalittlemorethantheupperhalfofthelimb,and,byakindofcompromisewiththetopsoftheboots,managedtoprotectalsothelowerhalf。Hisfeaturesweredelicate,andwouldhavebeencalledhandsomehadtheybelongedtoaproportionatelydelicatebody;inhiseyeshoveredadreamyvaguenesswhichseemedtocomeandvanish,andtoflitfromonefeaturetoanother,suggestingtheideaofremoteness,andafeelingofhopelessstrangenesstotheworldandallitsconcerns。
\"DoIinconvenienceyou,madam?\"werethefirstwordsheuttered,asAasainherusualabruptmannerstayedherlaughter,turnedherbackonhim,andhastilystartedforthehouse。
\"Inconvenience?\"saidshe,surprised,andagainslowlyturnedonherheel;\"no,notthatIknow。\"
\"Thentellmeiftherearepeoplelivinghereintheneighborhood,orifthelightdeceivedme,whichIsawfromtheothersideoftheriver。\"
\"Followme,\"answeredAasa,andshenavelyreachedhimherhand;\"myfather’snameisLageUlfsonKvaerk;helivesinthelargehouseyouseestraightbeforeyou,thereonthehill;
andmymotherlivestheretoo。\"
Andhandinhandtheywalkedtogether,whereapathhadbeenmadebetweentwoadjoiningrye—fields;hisserioussmileseemedtogrowmilderandhappier,thelongerhelingeredatherside,andhereyecaughtarayofmorehumanintelligence,asitrestedonhim。
\"Whatdoyoudouphereinthelongwinter?\"
askedhe,afterapause。
\"Wesing,\"answeredshe,asitwereatran—
dom,becausethewordcameintohermind;
\"andwhatdoyoudo,whereyoucomefrom?\"
\"Igathersong。\"
\"Haveyoueverheardtheforestsing?\"
askedshe,curiously。
\"ThatiswhyIcamehere。\"
Andagaintheywalkedoninsilence。
ItwasnearmidnightwhentheyenteredthelargehallatKvaerk。Aasawentbefore,stillleadingtheyoungmanbythehand。Inthetwilightwhichfilledthehouse,thespacebetweentheblack,smokyraftersopenedavaguevistaintotheregionofthefabulous,andeveryobjectintheroomloomedforthfromtheduskwithexaggeratedformanddimensions。Theroomappearedatfirsttobebutthehauntofthespiritsofthepast;nohumanvoice,nohumanfootstep,washeard;andthestrangerinstinctivelypressedthehandheheldmoretightly;forhewasnotsurebutthathewasstandingontheboundaryofdream—land,andsomeelfinmaidenhadreachedhimherhandtolurehimintohermountain,whereheshouldlivewithherforever。Buttheillusionwasofbriefduration;forAasa’sthoughtshadtakenawidelydifferentcourse;itwasbutseldomshehadfoundherselfunderthenecessityofmakingadecision;andnowitevidentlydevolveduponhertofindthestrangeraplaceofrestforthenight;soinsteadofanelf—maid’skissandasilverpalace,hesoonfoundhimselfhuddledintoadarklittlealcoveinthewall,wherehewastoldtogotosleep,whileAasawanderedovertotheemptycow—stables,andthrewherselfdowninthehaybythesideoftwosleepingmilkmaids。
III。
Therewasnotalittleastonishmentmanifestedamongtheservant—maidsatKvaerkthenextmorning,whenthehuge,gauntfigureofamanwasseentolaunchforthfromAasa’salcove,andthestrangestofallwas,thatAasaherselfappearedtobeasmuchastonishedastherest。Andtheretheystood,allgazingatthebewilderedtraveler,whoindeedwasnolessstartledthanthey,andasutterlyunabletoaccountforhisownsuddenapparition。Afteralongpause,hesummonedallhiscourage,fixedhiseyesintentlyonthegroupofthegirls,andwithafewrapidstepsadvancedtowardAasa,whomheseizedbythehandandasked,\"Areyounotmymaidenofyester—eve?\"
Shemethisgazefirmly,andlaidherhandonherforeheadasiftoclearherthoughts;asthememoryofthenightflashedthroughhermind,abrightsmilelitupherfeatures,andsheanswered,\"Youarethemanwhogatherssong。
Forgiveme,Iwasnotsurebutitwasalladream;forIdreamsomuch。\"
ThenoneofthemaidsranouttocallLageUlfson,whohadgonetothestablestoharnessthehorses;andhecameandgreetedtheunknownman,andthankedhimforlastmeeting,asisthewontofNorsepeasants,althoughtheyhadneverseeneachotheruntilthatmorning。
ButwhenthestrangerhadeatentwomealsinLage’shouse,Lageaskedhimhisnameandhisfather’soccupation;foroldNorwegianhospitalityforbidsthehosttolearntheguest’snamebeforehehassleptandeatenunderhisroof。Itwasthatsameafternoon,whentheysattogethersmokingtheirpipesunderthehugeoldpineintheyard,——itwasthenLageinquiredabouttheyoungman’snameandfamily;andtheyoungmansaidthathisnamewasTrondVigfusson,thathehadgraduatedattheUniversityofChristiania,andthathisfatherhadbeenalieutenantinthearmy;butbothheandTrond’smotherhaddied,whenTrondwasonlyafewyearsold。LagethentoldhisguestVigfussonsomethingabouthisfamily,butofthelegendofAsathorandSaintOlafhespokenotaword。Andwhiletheyweresittingtheretalkingtogether,AasacameandsatdownatVigfusson’sfeet;herlonggoldenhairflowedinawavingstreamdownoverherbackandshoulders,therewasafresh,healthfulglowonhercheeks,andherblue,fathomlesseyeshadastrangelyjoyous,almosttriumphantexpression。
Thefather’sgazedweltfondlyuponher,andthecollegianwasbutconsciousofonethought:
thatshewaswondrouslybeautiful。Andstillsogreatwashisnaturaltimidityandawkwardnessinthepresenceofwomen,thatitwasonlywiththegreatestdifficultyhecouldmasterhisfirstimpulsetofindsomeexcuseforleavingher。She,however,wasawareofnosuchrestraint。
\"Yousaidyoucametogathersong,\"shesaid;\"wheredoyoufindit?forItooshouldliketofindsomenewmelodyformyoldthoughts;Ihavesearchedsolong。\"
\"Ifindmysongsonthelipsofthepeople,\"
answeredhe,\"andIwritethemdownasthemaidensortheoldmensingthem。\"
Shedidnotseemquitetocomprehendthat。
\"Doyouhearmaidenssingthem?\"askedshe,astonished。\"Doyoumeanthetroll—virginsandtheelf—maidens?\"
\"Bytroll—virginsandelf—maidens,orwhatthelegendscallso,Iunderstandthehiddenandstillaudiblevoicesofnature,ofthedarkpineforests,thelegend—hauntedglades,andthesilenttarns;andthiswaswhatIreferredtowhenI
answeredyourquestionifIhadeverheardtheforestsing。\"
\"Oh,oh!\"criedshe,delighted,andclappedherhandslikeachild;butinanothermomentsheassuddenlygrewseriousagain,andsatsteadfastlygazingintohiseye,asifsheweretryingtolookintohisverysoulandtheretofindsomethingkindredtoherownlonelyheart。
Aminuteagoherpresencehadembarrassedhim;now,strangetosay,hemethereye,andsmiledhappilyashemetit。
\"Doyoumeantosaythatyoumakeyourlivingbywritingsongs?\"askedLage。
\"Thetroubleis,\"answeredVigfusson,\"thatImakenolivingatall;butIhaveinvestedalargecapital,whichistoyielditsinterestinthefuture。Thereisatreasureofsonghiddenineverynookandcornerofourmountainsandforests,andinournation’sheart。Iamoneoftheminerswhohavecometodigitoutbeforetimeandoblivionshallhaveburiedeverytraceofit,andthereshallnotbeeventhewill—o’—the—
wispofalegendtohoveroverthespot,andkeepalivethesadfactofourlossandourblamablenegligence。\"
Heretheyoungmanpaused;hiseyesgleamed,hispalecheeksflushed,andtherewasawarmthandanenthusiasminhiswordswhichalarmedLage,whileonAasaitworkedlikethemostpotentcharmoftheancientmysticrunes;
shehardlycomprehendedmorethanhalfofthespeaker’smeaning,buthisfireandeloquencewereonthisaccountnonethelesspowerful。
\"Ifthatisyourobject,\"remarkedLage,\"I
thinkyouhavehitupontherightplaceincominghere。Youwillbeabletopickupmanyanoddbitofastoryfromtheservantsandothershereabouts,andyouarewelcometostayherewithusaslongasyouchoose。\"
LagecouldnotbutattributetoVigfussonthemeritofhavingkeptAasaathomeawholeday,andthatinthemonthofmidsummer。Andwhilehesattherelisteningtotheirconversation,whilehecontemplatedthedelightthatbeamedfromhisdaughter’scountenanceand,ashethought,thereallyintelligentexpressionofhereyes,couldheconcealfromhimselfthepa—
ternalhopesthatswelledhisheart?Shewasallthatwaslefthim,thelifeorthedeathofhismightyrace。Andherewasonewhowaslikelytounderstandher,andtowhomsheseemedwillingtoyieldalltheaffectionofherwarmbutwaywardheart。ThusranLageUlfson’sreflections;andatnighthehadalittleconsultationwithElsie,hiswife,who,itisneedlesstoadd,wasnolesssanguinethanhe。
\"AndthenAasawillmakeanexcellenthousewife,youknow,\"observedElsie。\"Iwillspeaktothegirlaboutitto—morrow。\"
\"No,forHeaven’ssake,Elsie!\"exclaimedLage,\"don’tyouknowyourdaughterbetterthanthat?Promiseme,Elsie,thatyouwillnotsayasingleword;itwouldbeacruelthing,Elsie,tomentionanythingtoher。Sheisnotlikeothergirls,youknow。\"
\"Verywell,Lage,Ishallnotsayasingleword。Alas,youareright,sheisnotlikeothergirls。\"AndElsieagainsighedatherhusband’ssadignoranceofawoman’snature,andatthestillsadderfactofherdaughter’sinferioritytotheacceptedstandardofwomanhood。
IV。
TrondVigfussonmusthavemadearichharvestoflegendsatKvaerk,atleastjudgingbythetimehestayedthere;fordaysandweekspassed,andhehadyetsaidnothingofgoing。
Notthatanybodywishedhimtogo;no,onthecontrary,thelongerhestayedthemoreindispensableheseemedtoall;andLageUlfsoncouldhardlythinkwithoutashudderofthepossibilityofhiseverhavingtoleavethem。
ForAasa,hisonlychild,waslikeanotherbeinginthepresenceofthisstranger;allthatweird,forest—likeintensity,thatwild,halfsupernaturaltingeinhercharacterwhichinameasureexcludedherfromtheblissfulfeelingoffellowshipwithothermen,andmadeherthestrange,lonelycreatureshewas,——allthisseemedtovanishasdewinthemorningsunwhenVigfusson’seyesresteduponher;andwitheverydaythatpassed,herhumanandwomanlynaturegainedastrongerholduponher。Shefollowedhimlikehisshadowonallhiswanderings,andwhentheysatdowntogetherbythewayside,shewouldsing,inaclear,softvoice,anancientlayorballad,andhewouldcatchherwordsonhispaper,andsmileatthehappyprospectofperpetuatingwhatotherwisewouldhavebeenlost。
Aasa’slove,whetherconsciousornot,wastohimaneverlastingsourceofstrength,wasarevelationofhimselftohimself,andaclearingandwideningpowerwhichbroughtevermoreandmoreoftheuniversewithinthescopeofhisvision。Sotheylivedonfromdaytodayandfromweektoweek,and,asoldLageremarked,neverhadKvaerkbeenthesceneofsomuchhappiness。NotasingletimeduringVigfusson’sstayhadAasafledtotheforest,notamealhadshemissed,andatthehoursforfamilydevotionshehadtakenherseatatthebigtablewiththerestandapparentlylistenedwithasmuchattentionandinterest。Indeed,allthistimeAasaseemedpurposelytoavoidthedarkhauntsofthewoods,and,whenevershecould,chosetheopenhighway;notevenVigfusson’sentreatiescouldinducehertotreadthetemptingpathsthatledintotheforest’sgloom。
\"Andwhynot,Aasa?\"hewouldsay;\"summeristentimessummertherewhenthedrowsynoondayspreadsitstremblingmazeofshadowsbetweenthosehuge,venerabletrunks。Youcanfeelthesummercreepingintoyourveryheartandsoul,there!\"
\"Oh,Vigfusson,\"shewouldanswer,shakingherheadmournfully,\"forahundredpathsthatleadin,thereisonlyonethatleadsoutagain,andsometimeseventhatoneisnowheretobefound。\"
Heunderstoodhernot,butfearingtoask,heremainedsilent。
Hiswordsandhiseyesalwaysdrewhernearerandnearertohim;andtheforestanditsstrangevoicesseemedadark,opposinginfluence,whichstrovetotakepossessionofherheartandtowrestherawayfromhimforever;
shehelplesslyclungtohim;everythoughtandemotionofhersoulclusteredabouthim,andeveryhopeoflifeandhappinesswasstakedonhim。
OneeveningVigfussonandoldLageUlfsonhadbeenwalkingaboutthefieldstolookatthecrop,bothsmokingtheireveningpipes。Butastheycamedowntowardthebrinkwhencethepathleadsbetweenthetwoadjoiningrye—
fields,theyheardasweet,sadvoicecrooningsomeolddittydownbetweenthebirch—treesattheprecipice;theystoppedtolisten,andsoonrecognizedAasa’syellowhairoverthetopstherye;theshadowasofapainfulemotionflittedoverthefather’scountenance,andheturnedhisbackonhisguestandstartedtogo;
thenagainpaused,andsaid,imploringly,\"Trytogetherhomeifyoucan,friendVigfusson。’
Vigfussonnodded,andLagewent;thesonghadceasedforamoment,nowitbeganagain:
\"Yetwitteringbirdlings,inforestandglenIhaveheardyousogladlybefore;
Butaboldknighthathcometowoome,Idarelistentoyounomore。
Foritissodark,sodarkintheforest。
\"Andtheknightwhohathcomea—wooingtome,Hecallsmehisloveandhisown;
WhythenshouldIstraythroughthedarksomewoods,Ordreaminthegladesalone?
Foritissodark,sodarkintheforest。\"
Hervoicefelltoalowunintelligiblemurmur;
thenitrose,andthelastversescame,clear,soft,andlow,driftingontheeveningbreeze:
\"Yonbeckoningworld,thatshimmeringlayO’erthewoodswheretheoldpinesgrow,ThatgleamedthroughthemoodsofthesummerdayWhenthebreezesweremurmuringlow(Anditissodark,sodarkintheforest);
\"OhletmenomoreinthesunshinehearItsquiveringnoondaycall;
Theboldknight’sloveisthesunofmyheart——
Ismylife,andmyallinall。
Butitissodark,sodarkintheforest。\"
Theyoungmanfeltthebloodrushingtohisface——hisheartbeatviolently。Therewasakeensenseofguiltintheblushonhischeek,aloudaccusationinthethrobbingpulseandtheswellingheart—beat。Hadhenotstoodtherebehindthemaiden’sbackandcunninglypeeredintohersoul’sholyofholies?True,helovedAasa;atleasthethoughthedid,andtheconvictionwasgrowingstrongerwitheverydaythatpassed。Andnowhehadnodoubtthathehadgainedherheart。Itwasnotsomuchthewordsoftheballadwhichhadbetrayedthesecret;hehardlyknewwhatitwas,butsomehowthetruthhadflasheduponhim,andhecouldnolongerdoubt。
Vigfussonsatdownonthemoss—grownrockandpondered。Howlonghesattherehedidnotknow,butwhenheroseandlookedaround,Aasawasgone。Thenrememberingherfather’srequesttobringherhome,hehastenedupthehill—sidetowardthemansion,andsearchedforherinalldirections。ItwasnearmidnightwhenhereturnedtoKvaerk,whereAasasatinherhighgablewindow,stillhummingtheweirdmelodyoftheoldballad。
BywhatreasoningVigfussonarrivedathisfinalconclusionisdifficulttotell。Ifhehadactedaccordingtohisfirstandperhapsmostgenerousimpulse,thematterwouldsoonhavebeendecided;buthewasallthetimepossessedofavaguefearofactingdishonorably,anditwasprobablythisveryfearwhichmadehimdowhat,tothemindsofthosewhosefriendshipandhospitalityhehadaccepted,hadsomethingoftheappearancehewishedsocarefullytoavoid。Aasawasrich;hehadnothing;itwasareasonfordelay,buthardlyaconclusiveone。
Theydidnotknowhim;hemustgooutintheworldandprovehimselfworthyofher。Hewouldcomebackwhenheshouldhavecompelledtheworldtorespecthim;forasyethehaddonenothing。Infact,hisargumentsweregoodandhonorableenough,andtherewouldhavebeennofaulttofindwithhim,hadtheobjectofhislovebeenascapableofreasoningashewashimself。ButAasa,poorthing,coulddonothingbyhalves;anaturelikehersbrooksnodelay;
toherlovewaslifeoritwasdeath。
Thenextmorningheappearedatbreakfastwithhisknapsackonhisback,andotherwiseequippedforhisjourney。ItwasofnousethatElsiecriedandbeggedhimtostay,thatLagejoinedhisprayerstohers,andthatAasastoodstaringathimwithabewilderedgaze。Vigfussonshookhandswiththemall,thankedthemfortheirkindnesstohim,andpromisedtoreturn;
heheldAasa’shandlonginhis,butwhenhereleasedit,itdroppedhelplesslyatherside。
V。
Farupintheglen,aboutamilefromKvaerk,ranalittlebrook;thatis,itwaslittleinsummerandwinter,butinthespring,whilethesnowwasmeltingupinthemountains,itoverflowedthenearestlandandturnedthewholeglenintoabroadandshallowriver。Itwaseasytocross,however;alightfootmightjumpfromstonetostone,andbeoverinaminute。NotthehindherselfcouldbelighteronherfootthanAasawas;andeveninthespring—flooditwasherwonttocrossandrecrossthebrook,andtositdreamingonalargestoneagainstwhichthewaterbrokeincessantly,rushinginwhitetorrentsoveritsedges。
Hereshesatonefairsummerday——thedayafterVigfusson’sdeparture。Itwasnoon,andthesunstoodhighovertheforest。Thewatermurmuredandmurmured,babbledandwhispered,untilatlengththerecameasuddenunceasingtoneintoitsmurmur,thenanother,anditsoundedlikeafaintwhisperingsongofsmallairybeings。Andasshetriedtolisten,tofixtheairinhermind,itallceasedagain,andsheheardbutthemonotonousmurmuringofthebrook。Everythingseemedsoemptyandworthless,asifthatfaintmelodyhadbeentheworldofthemoment。Butthereitwasagain;
itsungandsung,andthebirchoverheadtookupthemelodyandrustleditwithitsleaves,andthegrasshopperoverinthegrasscaughtitandwhirreditwithherwings。Thewater,thetrees,theair,werefullofit。Whatastrangemelody!
AasawellknewthateverybrookandriverhasitsNeck,besideshostsoflittlewater—sprites。
Shehadheardalsothatinthemoonlightatmidsummer,onemightchancetoseethemrockinginbrightlittleshells,playingamongthepebbles,ordancingonthelargeleavesofthewater—lily。Andthattheycouldsingalso,shedoubtednot;itwastheirvoicessheheardthroughthemurmuringofthebrook。Aasaeagerlybentforwardandgazeddownintothewater:thefaintsonggrewlouder,pausedsuddenly,andsprangintolifeagain;anditssoundwassosweet,sowonderfullyalluring!Downthereinthewater,whereastubbornpebblekeptchafingaprecipitouslittlesidecurrent,cleartinypearl—dropswouldleapupfromthestream,andfloathalf—wonderinglydownwardfromrapidtorapid,untiltheylostthemselvesinthewhirlofsomestrongercurrent。ThussatAasaandgazedandgazed,andinonemomentsheseemedtoseewhatinthenextmomentshesawnot。Thenasuddengreathushstolethroughtheforest,andinthehushshecouldhearthesilencecallinghername。Itwassolongsinceshehadbeenintheforest,itseemedagesandagesago。Shehardlyknewherself;
thelightseemedtobeshiningintohereyesaswithawillandpurpose,perhapstoobliteratesomething,someolddreamormemory,ortoimpartsomenewpower——thepowerofseeingtheunseen。Andthisverythought,thisfearofsomepossibleloss,broughtthefadingmemoryback,andshepressedherhandsagainstherthrobbingtemplesasiftobindandchainitthereforever;anditwashetowhomherthoughtreturned。Sheheardhisvoice,sawhimbeckoningtohertofollowhim,andsherosetoobey,butherlimbswereaspetrified,andthestoneonwhichshewassittingheldherwiththepowerofahundredstrongarms。Thesunshinesmoteuponhereyelids,andhisnamewasblottedoutfromherlife;therewasnothingbutemptinessallaroundher。Graduallytheforestdrewnearerandnearer,thewaterbubbledandrippled,andthehuge,bare—
stemmedpinesstretchedtheirlonggnarledarmstowardher。Thebircheswavedtheirheadswithawistfulnod,andtheprofileoftherockgrewintoafacewithalong,hookednose,andamouthhalfopenasiftospeak。Andthewordthattrembledonhislipswas,\"Come。\"
Shefeltnofearnorreluctance,butrosetoobey。
Thenandnotuntilthenshesawanoldmanstandingatherside;hisfacewasthefaceoftherock,hiswhitebeardflowedtohisgirdle,andhismouthwashalfopen,butnowordcamefromhislips。Therewassomethinginthewistfullookofhiseyewhichsheknewsowell,whichshehadseensooften,althoughshecouldnottellwhenorwhere。Theoldmanextendedhishand;Aasatookit,andfearlesslyorratherspontaneouslyfollowed。Theyapproachedthesteep,rockywall;astheydrewnear,awild,fiercelaughrangthroughtheforest。Thefeaturesoftheoldmanweretwistedasitwereintoagrin;soalsowerethefeaturesoftherock;butthelaughblewlikeamightyblastthroughtheforest。
Aasaclungtotheoldman’shandandfollowedhim——sheknewnotwhither。
Athomeinthelargesitting—roomatKvaerksatLage,broodingoverthewreckofhishopesandhishappiness。AasahadgonetothewoodsagaintheveryfirstdayafterVigfusson’sdeparture。Whatwouldbetheendofallthis?
Itwasalreadylateintheevening,andshehadnotreturned。Thefathercastanxiousglancestowardthedoor,everytimeheheardthelatchmoving。Atlast,whenitwasnearmidnight,herousedallhismenfromtheirsleep,andcommandedthemtofollowhim。Soontheduskyforestsresoundedfarandnearwiththeblastofhorns,thereportofguns,andthecallingandshoutingofmen。Theaffrightedstagcrossedandrecrossedthepathofthehunters,butnotariflewasleveledatitshead。Towardmorning——
itwasbeforethesunhadyetrisen——Lage,wearyandstunned,stoodleaningupagainstahugefir。Thensuddenlyafierce,wildlaughrangthroughtheforest。Lageshuddered,raisedhishandslowlyandpressedithardagainsthisforehead,vainlystrugglingtoclearhisthoughts。Themenclungfearfullytogether;afewofthemorecourageousonesdrewtheirknivesandmadethesignofthecrosswiththemintheair。Againthesamemadlaughshooktheair,andsweptoverthecrownsofthepine—trees。ThenLageliftedhiseyestowardheavenandwrunghishands:fortheawfultruthstoodbeforehim。Heremainedalongwhileleaningagainstthatoldfirasinadeadstupor;andnoonedaredtoarousehim。A
suppressedmurmurreachedthemen’sears。
\"Butdeliverusfromevil\"werethelastwordstheyheard。
WhenLageandhisservantscamehometoKvaerkwiththemournfultidingsofAasa’sdisappearance,nooneknewwhattodoorsay。
TherecouldbenodoubtthatAasawas\"mountain—
taken,\"astheycallit;fortherewereTroldsanddwarfsinalltherocksandforestsroundabout,andtheywouldhardlyletslipthechanceofalluringsofairamaidenasAasawasintotheircastlesinthemountains。Elsie,hermother,knewagooddealabouttheTrolds,theirtricks,andtheirwayofliving,andwhenshehadweptherfill,shefelltothinkingofthepossibilityofregainingherdaughterfromtheirpower。IfAasahadnotyettastedoffoodordrinkinthemountain,shewasstilloutofdanger;andifthepastorwouldallowthechurch—belltobebroughtupintotheforestandrungneartherockwherethelaughhadbeenheard,theTroldscouldbecompelledtogiveherback。NosoonerhadthisbeensuggestedtoLage,thanthecommandwasgiventomusterthewholeforceofmenandhorses,andbeforeeveningonthesamedaythesturdyswainsofKvaerkwereseenclimbingthetowerofthevenerablechurch,whencesoonthehugeoldbelldescended,totheastonishmentofthethrongofcuriouswomenandchildrenwhohadflockedtogethertoseetheextraordinarysight。Itwaslaiduponfourlargewagons,whichhadbeenjoinedtogetherwithropesandplanks,anddrawnawaybytwelvestronghorses。Longafterthestrangecaravanhadvanishedinthetwilight,thechildrenstoodgazingupintotheemptybell—tower。
Itwasnearmidnight,whenLagestoodatthesteep,rockywallintheforest;themenwerelaboringtohoistthechurch—belluptoastaunchcross—beambetweentwomightyfir—trees,andintheweirdlightoftheirtorches,thewildsurroundingslookedwilderandmorefantastic。
Anon,themufflednoiseandbustleoftheworkbeingatanend,thelaborerswithdrew,andastrange,feverishsilenceseemedtobroodovertheforest。Lagetookastepforward,andseizedthebell—rope;theclear,conqueringtollofthemetalrungsolemnlythroughthesilence,andfromtherocks,theearth,andthetree—
tops,roseafiercechorusofhowls,groans,andscreams。Allnighttheringingcontinued;theoldtreesswayedtoandfro,creaked,andgroaned,therootsloosenedtheirholdsinthefissuresoftherock,andthebushycrownsbowedlowundertheirunwontedburden。
Itwaswell—nighmorn,butthedensefogstillbroodedoverthewoods,anditwasdarkasnight。Lagewassittingontheground,hisheadleaningonbothhiselbows;athissidelaytheflickeringtorch,andthehugebellhungdumboverhead。Inthedarkhefeltahandtouchhisshoulder;hadithappenedonlyafewhoursbefore,hewouldhaveshuddered;nowthephysicalsensationhardlycommunicateditselftohismind,or,ifitdid,hadnopowertorousehimfromhisdead,hopelessapathy。
Suddenly——couldhetrusthisownears?——thechurch—bellgaveaslow,solemn,quiveringstroke,andthefogsrolledinthickmassestotheeastandtothewest,asifblownbythebreathofthesound。Lageseizedhistorch,sprangtohisfeet,andsaw——Vigfusson。Hestretchedhisarmwiththeblazingtorchclosertotheyoungman’sface,staredathimwithlargeeyes,andhislipquivered;buthecouldnotutteraword。
\"Vigfusson?\"falteredheatlast。
\"ItisI;\"andthesecondstrokefollowed,strongerandmoresolemnthanthefirst。Thesamefierce,angryvoiceschorusedforthfromeverynookoftherockandthewoods。Thencamethethird——thenoisegrew;fourth——anditsoundedlikeahoarse,angryhiss;whenthetwelfthstrokefell,silencereignedagainintheforest。Vigfussondroppedthebell—rope,andwithaloudvoicecalledLageKvaerkandhismen。Helitatorch,helditaloftoverhishead,andpeeredthroughtheduskynight。Themenspreadthroughthehighlandstosearchforthelostmaiden;LagefollowedcloseinVigfusson’sfootsteps。Theyhadnotwalkedfarwhentheyheardthebabblingofthebrookonlyafewfeetaway。Thithertheydirectedtheirsteps。Onalargestoneinthemiddleofthestreamtheyouththoughthesawsomethingwhite,likealargekerchief。Quickasthoughthewasatitsside,boweddownwithhistorch,and——fellbackward。ItwasAasa,hisbeloved,coldanddead;butasthefatherstoopedoverhisdeadchildthesamemadlaughechoedwildlythroughoutthewidewoods,butmadderandlouderthaneverbefore,andfromtherockywallcameafierce,brokenvoice:
\"Icameatlast。\"
When,afteranhourofvainsearch,themenreturnedtotheplacewhencetheyhadstarted,theysawafaintlightflickeringbetweenthebirchesnotfiftyfeetaway;theyformedafirmcolumn,andwithfearfulheartsdrewnearer。
TherelayLageKvaerk,theirmaster,stillbendingdownoverhischild’spalefeatures,andstaringintohersunkeneyesasifhecouldnotbelievethatshewerereallydead。AndathissidestoodVigfusson,paleandaghast,withtheburningtorchinhishand。Thefootstepsofthemenawakenedthefather,butwhenheturnedhisfaceonthemtheyshudderedandstartedback。ThenLagerose,liftedthemaidenfromthestone,andsilentlylaidherinVigfusson’sarms;herrichyellowhairfloweddownoverhisshoulder。Theyouthlethistorchfallintothewaters,andwithasharp,serpent—likehissitsflamewasquenched。Hecrossedthebrook;themenfollowed,andthedarkpine—treesclosedoverthelastdescendantofLageUlfson’smightyrace。