tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第12节
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coming snow…storm。 There it lay so huge and fantastically human；
ruffling itself up； as fowls do； in defense against the cold。 Halfdan
walked on at a brisk ratestrange to say； all the street… cars he met went
the wrong waystartling every now and then some precious memory；
some word or look or gesture of Edith's which had hovered long over
those scenes； waiting for his recognition。 There was the great jewel…store
where Edith had taken him so often to consult his taste whenever a friend
of hers was to be married。 It was there that they had had an amicable
quarrel over that bronze statue of Faust which she had found beautiful；
while he； with a rudeness which seemed now quite incomprehensible； had
insisted that it was not。 And when he had failed to convince her； she had
given him her hand in token of reconciliation and Edith had a wonderful
way of giving her hand； which made any one feel that it was a peculiar
privilege to press itand they had walked out arm in arm into the animated；
gas… lighted streets； with a delicious sense of snugness and security； being
all the more closely united for their quarrel。 Here； farther up the avenue；
they had once been to a party； and he had danced for the first time in his
life with Edith。 Here was Delmonico's； where they had had such
fascinating luncheons together； where she had got a stain on her dress； and
he had been forced to observe that her dress was then not really a part of
herself； since it was a thing that could not be stained。 Her dress had
always seemed to him as something absolute and final； exalted above
criticism； incapable of improvement。
As I have said； Halfdan walked briskly up the avenue； and it was
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something after eleven when he reached the house which he sought。 The
great cloud…bank in the north had then begun to expand and stretched its
long misty arms eastward and westward over the heavens。 The windows
on the ground…floor were dark； but the sleeping apartments in the upper
stories were lighted。 In Edith's room the inside shutters were closed； but
one of the windows was a little down at the top。 And as he stood gazing
with tremulous happiness up to that window； a stanza from Heine which
he and Edith had often read together； came into his head。 It was the story
of the youth who goes to the Madonna at Kevlar and brings her as a votive
offering a heart of wax； that she may heal him of his love and his sorrow。
〃I bring this waxen image； The image of my heart；
Heal thou my bitter sorrow； And cure my deadly smart！〃＇4＇
＇4＇ Translation； from 〃Exotics。 By J。 F。 C。 & C。 L。〃
Then came the thought that for him； too； as for the poor youth of
Cologne； there was healing only in death。 And still in this moment he
was so near Edith； should see her perhaps； and the joy at this was stronger
than all else； stronger even than death。 So he sat down beside the steps
of the mansion opposite； where there was some shelter from the wind； and
waited patiently till Edith should close her win… dow。 He was cold；
perhaps； but； if so； he hardly knew it； for the near joy of seeing her
throbbed warmly in his veins。 Ah； therethe blinds were thrown open；
Edith； in all the lithe magnificence of her wonderful form； stood out clear
and beautiful against the light within； she pushed up the lower window in
order to reach the upper one； and for a moment leaned out over the sill。
Once more her wondrous profile traced itself in strong relief against the
outer gloom。 There came a cry from the street below； a feeble
involuntary one； but still distinctly audible。 Edith peered anxiously out
into the darkness； but the darkness had grown denser and she could see
nothing。 The window was fastened； the shutters closed； and the broad
pathway of light which she had flung out upon the night had vanished。
Halfdan closed his eyes trying to retain the happy vision。 Yes； there
she stood still； and there was a heavenly smile upon her lipsugh； he
shiveredthe snow swept in a wild whirl up the street。 He wrapped his
plaid more closely about him； and strained his eyes to catch one more
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glimpse of the beloved Edith。 Ah； yes； there she was again； she came
nearer and nearer； and she touched his cheek； gently； warily smiling all the
while with a strange wistful smile which was surely not Edith's。 There；
she bent over him；touched him again；how cold her hands were； the
touch chilled him to the heart。 The snow had now begun to fall in large
scattered flakes； whirling fitfully through the air； following every chance
gust of wind； but still falling； falling； and covering the earth with its white；
death…like shroud。
But surelythere was Edith again；how wonderful！in a long snow…
white robe； grave and gracious； still with the wistful smile on her lips。
See； she beckons to him with her hand； and he rises to follow； but
something heavy clings to his feet and he cannot stir from the spot。 He
tries to cry for help； but he cannot； can only stretch out his hands to her；
and feel very unhappy that he cannot follow her。 But now she pauses in
her flight； turns about； and he sees that she wears a myrtle garland in her
hair like a bride。 She comes toward him； her countenance all radiant
with love and happiness； and she stoops down over him and speaks：
〃Come； they are waiting for us。 I will follow thee in life and in death；
wherever thou goest。 Come；〃 repeats Edith； 〃they have long been
waiting。 They are all here。〃
And he imagines he knows who they all are； although he has never
heard of them； nor can he recall their names。
〃Butbut；〃 he stammers； 〃IIam a foreigner 〃
It appeared then that for some reason this was an insurmountable
objection。 And Edith's happiness dies out of her beautiful face； and she
turns away weeping。
〃Edith； beloved！〃
Then she is once more at his side。
〃Thou art no more a foreigner to me； beloved。 Whatever thou art； I
am。〃
And she presses her lips to hisit was the sweetest kiss of his lifethe
kiss of death。
The next morning； as Edith； after having put the last touch to her toilet；
threw the shutters open； a great glare of sun…smitten snow burst upon her
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and for a moment blinded her eyes。 On the sidewalk opposite； half a
dozen men with snow…shovels in their hands and a couple of policeman
had congregated； and； judging by their manner； were discussing some
object of interest。 Presently they were joined by her father； who had just
finished his breakfast and was on his way to the office。 Now he stooped
down and gazed at something half concealed in the snow； then suddenly
started back； and as she caught a glimpse of his face； she saw that it was
ghastly white。 A terrible foreboding seized her。 She threw a shawl
about her shoulders and rushed down…stairs。 In the hall she was met by
her father； who was just entering； followed by four men； carrying
something between them。 She well knew what it was。 She would fain
have turned away； but she could not： grasping her father's arm and
pressing it hard； she gazed with blank； frightened eyes at the white face；
the lines of which Death had so strangely emphasized。 The snow…flakes
which hung in his hair had touched him with their sudden age； as if to
bridge the gulf between youth and death。 And still he was b
