安徒生童话-第88部分

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d　me。　Now；　the　Generaland　his　lady　can't　do　that。　And　George　was　fairly　wild　with　delightyesterday　at　the　good　reception　he　met　with　at　the　Count's；　and　soam　I　to…day；　after　speaking　to　the　great　man。　Wasn't　it　a　good　thingthat　we　didn't　bind　George　apprentice　to　a　handicraftsman？　for　hehas　abilities　of　his　own。〃

〃But　they　must　be　helped　on　by　others；〃　said　the　father。

〃That　help　he　has　got　now；〃　rejoined　the　mother；　〃for　the　Countspoke　out　quite　clearly　and　distinctly。〃

〃But　I　fancy　it　began　with　the　General；〃　said　the　father；　〃andwe　must　thank　them　too。〃

〃Let　us　do　so　with　all　my　heart；〃　cried　the　mother；　〃though　Ifancy　we　have　not　much　to　thank　them　for。　I　will　thank　the　good　God；and　I　will　thank　Him；　too；　for　letting　little　Emily　get　well。〃

Emily　was　getting　on　bravely；　and　George　got　on　bravely　too。　Inthe　course　of　the　year　he　won　the　little　silver　prize　medal　of　theAcademy；　and　afterwards　he　gained　the　great　one　too。

〃It　would　have　been　better；　after　all；　if　he　had　beenapprenticed　to　a　handicraftsman；〃　said　the　porter's　wife；　weeping；〃for　then　we　could　have　kept　him　with　us。　What　is　he　to　do　in　Rome？I　shall　never　get　a　sight　of　him　again；　not　even　if　he　es　back；　butthat　he　won't　do；　the　dear　boy。〃

〃It　is　fortune　and　fame　for　him；〃　said　the　father。

〃Yes；　thank　you；　my　friend；〃　said　the　mother；　〃you　are　saying　whatyou　do　not　mean。　You　are　just　as　sorrowful　as　I　am。〃

And　it　was　all　true　about　the　sorrow　and　the　journey。　Buteverybody　said　it　was　a　great　piece　of　good　fortune　for　the　youngfellow。　And　he　had　to　take　leave；　and　of　the　General　too。　TheGeneral's　lady　did　not　show　herself；　for　she　had　her　bad　headache。On　this　occasion　the　General　told　his　only　anecdote；　about　what　he　hadsaid　to　the　Prince；　and　how　the　Prince　had　said　to　him；　〃You　areinparable。〃　And　he　held　out　a　languid　hand　to　George。

Emily　gave　George　her　hand　too；　and　looked　almost　sorry；　andGeorge　was　the　most　sorry　of　all。

Time　goes　by　when　one　has　something　to　do；　and　it　goes　by；　too；when　one　has　nothing　to　do。　The　time　is　equally　long；　but　notequally　useful。　It　was　useful　to　George；　and　did　not　seem　long　at　all；except　when　he　happened　to　be　thinking　of　his　home。　How　might　the　goodfolks　be　getting　on；　up　stairs　and　down　stairs？　Yes；　there　was　writingabout　that；　and　many　things　can　be　put　into　a　letter…　brightsunshine　and　dark；　heavy　days。　Both　of　these　were　in　the　letterwhich　brought　the　news　that　his　father　was　dead；　and　that　his　motherwas　alone　now。　She　wrote　that　Emily　had　e　down　to　see　her；　andhad　been　to　her　like　an　angel　of　fort；　and　concerning　herself；she　added　that　she　had　been　allowed　to　keep　her　situation　asporteress。

The　General's　lady　kept　a　diary；　and　in　this　diary　was　recordedevery　ball　she　attended　and　every　visit　she　received。　The　diary　wasillustrated　by　the　insertion　of　the　visiting　cards　of　the　diplomaticcircle　and　of　the　most　noble　families；　and　the　General's　lady　wasproud　of　it。　The　diary　kept　growing　through　a　long　time；　and　amid　manysevere　headaches；　and　through　a　long　course　of　half…nights；　that　is　tosay；　of　court　balls。　Emily　had　now　been　to　a　court　ball　for　thefirst　time。　Her　mother　had　worn　a　bright　red　dress；　with　black　lace；in　the　Spanish　style；　the　daughter　had　been　attired　in　white；　fair　anddelicate；　green　silk　ribbons　fluttered　like　flag…leaves　among　heryellow　locks；　and　on　her　head　she　wore　a　wreath　of　water…lillies。Her　eyes　were　so　blue　and　clear；　her　mouth　was　so　delicate　and　red；she　looked　like　a　little　water　spirit；　as　beautiful　as　such　a　spiritcan　be　imagined。　The　Princes　danced　with　her；　one　after　another　ofcourse；　and　the　General's　lady　had　not　a　headache　for　a　weekafterwards。

But　the　first　ball　was　not　the　last；　and　Emily　could　not　stand　it；it　was　a　good　thing；　therefore；　that　summer　brought　with　it　rest；and　exercise　in　the　open　air。　The　family　had　been　invited　by　the　oldCount　to　visit　him　at　him　castle。　That　was　a　castle　with　a　gardenwhich　was　worth　seeing。　Part　of　this　garden　was　laid　out　quite　inthe　style　of　the　old　days；　with　stiff　green　hedges；　you　walked　as　ifbetween　green　walls　with　peep…holes　in　them。　Box　trees　and　yew　treesstood　there　trimmed　into　the　form　of　stars　and　pyramids；　and　watersprang　from　fountains　in　large　grottoes　lined　with　shells。　Allaround　stood　figures　of　the　most　beautiful　stone…　that　could　be　seenin　their　clothes　as　well　as　in　their　faces；　every　flower…bed　had　adifferent　shape；　and　represented　a　fish；　or　a　coat　of　arms；　or　amonogram。　That　was　the　French　part　of　the　garden；　and　from　this　partthe　visitor　came　into　what　appeared　like　the　green；　fresh　forest；where　the　trees　might　grow　as　they　chose；　and　accordingly　they　weregreat　and　glorious。　The　grass　was　green；　and　beautiful　to　walk　on；　andit　was　regularly　cut；　and　rolled；　and　swept；　and　tended。　That　wasthe　English　part　of　the　garden。

〃Old　time　and　new　time；〃　said　the　Count；　〃here　they　run　wellinto　one　another。　In　two　years　the　building　itself　will　put　on　aproper　appearance；　there　will　be　a　plete　metamorphosis　in　beautyand　improvement。　I　shall　show　you　the　drawings；　and　I　shall　show　youthe　architect；　for　he　is　to　dine　here　to…day。〃

〃Charming！〃　said　the　General。

〃'Tis　like　Paradise　here；〃　said　the　General's　lady；　〃and　yonderyou　have　a　knight's　castle！〃

〃That's　my　poultry…house；〃　observed　the　Count。　〃The　pigeons　livein　the　tower；　the　turkeys　in　the　first　floor；　but　old　Elsie　rules　inthe　ground　floor。　She　has　apartments　on　all　sides　of　her。　Thesitting　hens　have　their　own　room；　and　the　hens　with　chickens　havetheirs；　and　the　ducks　have　their　own　particular　door　leading　to　thewater。〃

〃Charming！〃　repeated　the　General。

And　all　sailed　forth　to　see　these　wonderful　things。　Old　Elsiestood　in　the　room　on　the　ground　floor；　and　by　her　side　stood　ArchitectGeorge。　He　and　Emily　now　met　for　the　first　time　after　several　years；and　they　met　in　the　poultry…house。

Yes；　there　he　stood；　and　was　handsome　enough　to　be　looked　at。His　face　was　frank　and　energetic；　he　had　black　shining　hair；　and　asmile　about　his　mouth；　which　said；　〃I　have　a　brownie　that　sits　in　myear；　and　knows　every　one　of　you；　inside　and　out。〃　Old　Elsie　had　pulledoff　her　wooden　shoes；　and　stood　there　in　her　stockings；　to　do　honor　tothe　noble　guests。　The　hens　clucked；　and　the　cocks　crowed；　and　theducks　waddled　to　and　fro；　and　said；　〃Quack；　quack！〃　But　the　fair；　palegirl；　the　friend　of　his　childhood；　the　daughter　of　the　General；stood　there　with　a　rosy　blush　on　her　usually　pale　cheeks；　and　her　eyesopened　wide；　and　her　mouth　seemed　to　speak　without　uttering　a　word；and　the　greeting　he　received　from　her　was　the　most　beautifulgreeting　a　young　man　can　desire　from　a　young　lady；　if　they　are　notrelated；　or　have　not　danced　many　times　together；　and　she　and　thearchitect　had　never　danced　together。

The　Count　shook　hands　with　him；　and　introduced　him。

〃He　is　not　altogether　a　stranger；　our　young　friend　George。〃

The　General's　lady　bowed　to　him；　and　the　General's　daughter　wasvery　nearly　giving　him　her　hand；　but　she　did　not　give　it　to　him。

〃Our　little　Master　George！〃　said　the　General。　〃Old　friends！Charming！〃

〃You　have　bee　quite　an　Italian；〃　said　the　General's　lady；〃and　I　presume　you　speak　the　language　like　a　native？〃

〃My　wife　sings　the　language；　but　she　does　not　speak　it；〃observed　the　General。

At　dinner；　George　sat　at　the　right　hand　of　Emily；　whom　the　Generalhad　taken　down；　while　the　Count　led　in　the　General's　lady。

Mr。　George　talked　and　told　of　his　travels；　and　he　could　talk　well；and　was　the　life　and　soul　of　the　table；　though　the　old　Count　couldhave　been　it　too。　Emily　sat　silent；　but　she　listened；　and　her　eyesgleamed；　but　she　said　nothing。

In　the　verandah；　among　the　flowers；　she　and　George　stood　together；the　rose…bushes　concealed　them。　And　George　was　speaking　again；　forhe　took　the　lead　now。

〃Many　thanks　for　the　kind　consideration　you　showed　my　old　mother；〃he　said。　〃I　know　that　you　went　down　to　her　on　the　night　when　my　fatherdied；　and　you　stayed　with　her　till　his　eyes　were　closed。　Myheartiest　thanks！〃

He　took　Emily's　hand　and　kissed　it…　he　might　do　so　on　such　anoccasion。　She　blushed　deeply；　but　pressed　his　hand；　and　looked　athim　with　her　dear　blue　eyes。

〃Your　mother　was　a　dear　soul！〃　she　said。　〃How　fond　she　was　ofher　son！　And　she　let　me　read　all　your　letters；　so　that　I　almostbelieve　I　know　you。　How　kind　you　were　to　me　when　I　was　little　girl！You　used　to　give　me　pictures。〃

〃Which　you　tore　in　two；〃　said　George。

〃No；　I　have　still　your　drawing　of　the　castle。〃

〃I　must　build　the　castle　in　reality　now；〃　said　George；　and　hebecame　quite　warm　at　his　own　words。

The　General　and　the　General's　lady　talked　to　each　other　in　theirroom　about　the　porter's　son…　how　he　knew　how　to　behave；　and　to　expresshimself　with　the　greatest　propriety。

〃He　might　be　a　tutor；〃　said　the　General。

〃Intellect！〃　said　the　General's　lady；　but　she　did　not　say　anythingmore。

During　the　beautiful　summer…time　Mr。　George　several　timesvisited　the　Count　at　his　castle；　and　he　was　missed　when　he　did　note。

〃How　much　the　good　God　has　given　you　that　he　has　not　given　to　uspoor　mortals；〃　said　Emily　to　him。　〃Are　you　sure　you　are　verygrateful　for　it？〃

It　flattered　George　that　the　lovely　young　girl　should　look　up　tohim；　and　he　thought　then　that　Emily　had　unusually　good　abilities。And　the　General　felt　more　and　more　convinced　that　George　was　nocellar…child。

〃His　mother　was　a　very　good　woman；〃　he　observed。　〃It　is　only　rightI　should　do　her　that　justice　now　she　is　in　her　grave。〃

The　summer　passed　away；　and　the　winter　came；　again　there　wastalk　about　Mr。　George。　He　was　highly　respected；　and　was　received　inthe　first　circles。　The　General　had　met　him　at　a　court　ball。

And　now　there　was　a　ball　to　be　given　in　the　General's　house　forEmily；　and　could　Mr。　George　be　invited　to　it？

〃He　whom　the　King　invites　can　be　invited　by　the　General　also；〃said　the　General；　and　drew　himself　up　till　he　stood　quite　an　inchhigher　than　before。

Mr。　George　was　invited；　and　he　came；　princes　and　counts　came；and　they　danced；　one　better　than　the　other。　But　Emily　could　only　danceone　dance…　the　first；　for　she　made　a　false　step…　nothing　ofconsequence；　but　her　foot　hurt　her；　so　that　she　had　to　be　careful；　andleave　off　dancing；　and　look　at　the　others。　So　she　sat　and　looked　on；and　the　architect　stood　by　her　side。

〃I　suppose　you　are　giving　her　the　whole　history　of　St。　Peter's；〃said　the　General；　as　he　passed　by；　and　smiled；　like　thepersonification　of　patronage。

With　the　same　patronizing　smile　he　received　Mr。　George　a　fewdays　afterwards。　The　young　man　came；　no　doubt；　to　return　thanks　forthe　invitation　to　the　ball。　What　else　could　it　be？　But　indeed　therewas　something　else；　something　very　astonishing　and　startling。　He　spokewords　of　sheer　lunacy；　so　that　the　General　could　hardly　believe　hisown　ears。　It　was　〃the　height　of　rhodomontade；〃　an　offer；　quite　aninconceivable　offer…　Mr。　George　came　to　ask　the　hand　of　Emily　inmarriage！

〃Man！〃　cried　the　General；　and　his　brain　seemed　to　be　boiling。　〃Idon't　understand　you　at　all。　What　is　it　you　say？　What　is　it　youwant？　I　don't　know　you。　Sir！　Man！　What　possesses　you　to　break　intomy　house？　And　am　I　to　stand　here　and　listen　to　you？〃　He　steppedbackwards　into　his　bed…room；　locked　the　door　behind　him；　and　leftMr。　George　standing　alone。　George　stood　still　for　a　few　minutes；　andthen　turned　round　and　left　the　room。　Emily　was　standing　in　thecorridor。

〃My　father　has　answered？〃　she　said；　and　her　voice　trembled。

George　pressed　her　hand。

〃He　has　escaped　me；〃　he　replied；　〃but　a　better　time　will　e。〃

There　were　tears　in　Emily's　eyes；　but　in　the　young　man's　eyesshone　courage　and　confidence；　and　the　sun　shone　through　the　window；and　cast　his　beams　on　the　pair；　and　gave　them　his　blessing。

The　General　sat　in　his　room；　bursting　hot。　Yes；　he　was　stillboiling；　until　he　boiled　over　in　the　exclamation；　〃Lunacy！　porter！madness！〃

Not　an　hour　was　over　before　the　General's　lady　knew　it　out　ofthe　General's　own　mouth。　She　called　Emily；　and　remained　alone　withher。

〃You　poor　child；〃　she　said；　〃to　insult　you　so！　to　insult　us　so！There　are　tears　in　your　eyes；　too；　but　they　bee　you　well。　Youlook　beautiful　in　tears。　You　look　as　I　looked　on　my　wedding…day。Weep　on；　my　sweet　Emily。〃

〃Yes；　that　I　must；〃　said　Emily；　〃if　you　and　my　father　do　not　say'yes。'〃

〃Child！〃　screamed　the　General's　lady；　〃you　are　ill！　You　aretalking　wildly；　and　I　shall　have　a　most　terrible　headache！　Oh；　whata　misfortune　is　ing　upon　our　house！　Don't　make　your　mother　die；Emily；　or　you　will　have　no　mother。〃

And　the　eyes　of　the　General's　lady　were　wet；　for　she　could　notbear　to　think　of　her　own　death。

In　the　newspapers　there　was　an　announcement。　〃Mr。　George　hasbeen　elected　Professor　of　the　Fifth　Class；　number　Eight。〃

〃It's　a　pity　that　his　parents　are　dead　and　cannot　read　it；〃　saidthe　new　porter　people；　who　now　lived　in　the　cellar　under　the　General'sapartments。　They　knew　that　the　Professor　had　been　born　and　grown　upwithin　their　four　walls。

〃Now　he'll　get　a　salary；〃　said　the　man。

〃Yes；　that's　not　much　for　a　poor　child；〃　said　the　woman。

〃Eighteen　dollars　a　year；〃　said　the　man。　〃Why；　it's　a　good　deal　ofmoney。〃

〃No；　I　mean　the　honor　of　it；〃　replied　the　wife。　〃Do　you　think　hecares　for　the　money？　Those　few　dollars　he　can　earn　a　hundred　timesover；　and　most　likely　he'll　get　a　rich　wife　into　the　bargain。　If　wehad　children　of　our　own；　husband；　our　child　should　be　an　architect　anda　professor　too。〃

George　was　spoken　well　of　in　the　cellar；　and　he　was　spoken　well　ofin　the　first　floor。　The　old　Count　took　upon　himself　to　do　that。

The　pictures　he　had　drawn　in　his　childhood　gave　occasion　for　it。But　how　did　the　conversation　e　to　turn　on　these　pictures？　Why；　theyhad　been　talking　of　Russia　and　of　Moscow；　and　thus　mention　was　made　ofthe　Kremlin；　which　little　George　had　once　drawn　for　Miss　Emily。　He　haddrawn　many　pictures；　but　the　Count　especially　remembered　one；　〃Emily'sCastle；〃　where　she　was　to　sleep；　and　to　dance；　and　to　play　atreceiving　guests。

〃The　Professor　was　a　true　man；〃　said　the　Count；　〃and　would　be　aprivy　councillor　before　he　died；　it　was　not　at　all　unlikely；　and　hemight　build　a　real　castle　for　the　young　lady　before　that　time　came：why　not？〃

〃That　was　a　strange　jest；〃　remarked　the　General's　lady；　when　theCount　had　gone　away。　The　General　shook　his　head　thoughtfully；　and　wentout　for　a　ride；　with　his　groom　behind　him　at　a　proper　distance；　and　hesat　more　stiffly　than　ever　on　his　high　horse。

It　was　Emily's　birthday。　Flowers；　books；　letters；　and　visitingcards　came　pouring　in。　The　General's　lady　kissed　her　on　the　mouth；　andthe　General　kissed　her　on　the　forehead；　they　were　affectionateparents；　and　they　and　Emily　had　to　receive　grand　visitors；　two　ofthe　Princes。　They　talked　of　balls　and　theatres；　of　diplomaticmissions；　of　the　government　of　empires　and　nations；　and　then　theyspoke　of　talent；　native　talent；　and　so　the　discourse　turned　upon　theyoung　architect。

〃He　is　building　up　an　immortality　for　himself；〃　said　one；　〃andhe　will　certainly　build　his　way　into　one　of　our　first　families〃。

〃One　of　our　first　families！〃　repeated　the　General　and　afterwardsthe　General's　lady；　〃what　is　meant　by　one　of　our　first　families？〃

〃I　know　for　whom　it　was　intended；〃　said　the　General's　lady；　〃but　Ishall　not　say　it。　I　don't　think　it。　Heaven　disposes；　but　I　shall　beastonished。〃

〃I　am　astonished　also！〃　said　the　General。　〃I　haven't　an　idea　in　myhead！〃