按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Only he hasn't your courage。〃 From her slanting eyes Clara shot
forth one of those keen glances； admiring and at the same time
challenging； which she seldom bestowed on any one； and which seemed
to say； 〃Yes； I admire you； but I am your equal。〃
Clara was proving a much better host than Olaf； who； once the
supper was over； seemed to feel no interest in anything but the
lanterns。 He had brought a locomotive headlight from
town to light the revels； and he kept skulking about as if he
feared the mere light from it might set his new barn on fire。
His wife； on the contrary； was cordial to every one； was
animated and even gay。 The deep salmon colour in her cheeks burned
vividly； and her eyes were full of life。 She gave the piano over
to the fat Swedish heiress； pulled her father away from the corner
where he sat gossiping with his cronies； and made him dance a
Bohemian dance with her。 In his youth Joe had been a famous
dancer； and his daughter got him so limbered up that every one sat
around and applauded them。 The old ladies were particularly
delighted； and made them go through the dance again。 From their
corner where they watched and commented； the old women kept time
with their feet and hands； and whenever the fiddles struck up a new
air old Mrs。 Svendsen's white cap would begin to bob。
Clara was waltzing with little Eric when Nils came up to them；
brushed his brother aside； and swung her out among the dancers。
〃Remember how we used to waltz on rollers at the old skating rink
in town？ I suppose people don't do that any more。 We used to keep
it up for hours。 You know； we never did moon around as other boys
and girls did。 It was dead serious with us from the beginning。
When we were most in love with each other； we used to fight。 You
were always pinching people； your fingers were like little nippers。
A regular snapping turtle； you were。 Lord； how you'd like
Stockholm！ Sit out in the streets in front of cafes and talk all
night in summer。 just like a receptionofficers and ladies and
funny English people。 Jolliest people in the world； the Swedes；
once you get them going。 Always drinking thingschampagne and
stout mixed； half…and…half； serve it out of big pitchers； and serve
plenty。 Slow pulse； you know； they can stand a lot。 Once they
light up； they're glowworms； I can tell you。〃
〃All the same； you don't really like gay people。〃
〃I don't？〃
〃No； I could tell that when you were looking at the old women
there this afternoon。 They're the kind you really admire； after
all； women like your mother。 And that's the kind you'll marry。〃
〃Is it； Miss Wisdom？ You'll see who I'll marry； and she
won't have a domestic virtue to bless herself with。 She'll be a
snapping turtle； and she'll be a match for me。 All the same；
they're a fine bunch of old dames over there。 You admire them
yourself
〃No； I don't； I detest them。〃
〃You won't； when you look back on them from Stockholm or
Budapest。 Freedom settles all that。 Oh； but you're the real
Bohemian Girl； Clara Vavrika！〃 Nils laughed down at her sullen
frown and began mockingly to sing：
〃Oh； how could a poor gypsy maiden like me
Expect the proud bride of a baron to be？〃
Clara clutched his shoulder。 〃Hush； Nils； every one is looking at
you。〃
〃I don't care。 They can't gossip。 It's all in the family； as
the Ericsons say when they divide up little Hilda's patrimony
amongst them。 Besides； we'll give them something to talk about
when we hit the trail。 Lord； it will be a godsend to them！ They
haven't had anything so interesting to chatter about since the
grasshopper year。 It'll give them a new lease of life。 And Olaf
won't lose the Bohemian vote； either。 They'll have the laugh on
him so that they'll vote two apiece。 They'll send him to Congress。
They'll never forget his barn party； or us。 They'll always
remember us as we're dancing together now。 We're making a legend。
Where's my waltz； boys？〃 he called as they whirled past the
fiddlers。
The musicians grinned； looked at each other； hesitated； and
began a new air； and Nils sang with them； as the couples fell from
a quick waltz to a long； slow glide：
〃When other lips and other hearts
Their tale of love shall tell；
In language whose excess imparts
The power they feel so well。〃
The old women applauded vigorously。 〃What a gay one he is；
that Nils！〃 And old Mrs。 Svendsen's cap lurched dreamily
from side to side to the flowing measure of the dance。
Of days that have as ha…a…p…py been；
And you'll remember me。〃
VII
The moonlight flooded that great； silent land。 The reaped
fields lay yellow in it。 The straw stacks and poplar windbreaks
threw sharp black shadows。 The roads were white rivers of dust。
The sky was a deep； crystalline blue； and the stars were few and
faint。 Everything seemed to have succumbed； to have sunk to sleep；
under the great； golden； tender； midsummer moon。 The splendour of
it seemed to transcend human life and human fate。 The senses were
too feeble to take it in； and every time one looked up at the sky
one felt unequal to it； as if one were sitting deaf under the waves
of a great river of melody。 Near the road； Nils Ericson was lying
against a straw stack in Olaf's wheat field。 His own life seemed
strange and unfamiliar to him； as if it were something he had read
about； or dreamed； and forgotten。 He lay very still； watching the
white road that ran in front of him； lost itself among the fields；
and then； at a distance； reappeared over a little hill。 At last；
against this white band he saw something moving rapidly； and he got
up and walked to the edge of the field。 〃She is passing the row of
poplars now；〃 he thought。 He heard the padded beat of hoofs along
the dusty road； and as she came into sight he stepped out and waved
his arms。 Then； for fear of frightening the horse； he drew back
and waited。 Clara had seen him； and she came up at a walk。 Nils
took the horse by the bit and stroked his neck。
〃What are you doing out so late； Clara Vavrika？ I went to the
house； but Johanna told me you had gone to your father's。〃
〃Who can stay in the house on a night like this？ Aren't you
out yourself？〃
〃Ah； but that's another matter。〃
Nils turned the horse into the field。
〃What are you doing？ Where are you taking Norman？〃
〃Not far； but I want to talk to you tonight； I have something to
say to you。 I can't talk to you at the house； with Olaf sitting
there on the porch； weighing a thousand tons。〃
Clara laughed。 〃He won't be sitting there now。 He's in bed
by this time； and asleepweighing a thousand tons。〃
Nils plodded on across the stubble。 〃Are you really going
to spend the rest of your life like this； night after night；
summer after summer？ Haven't you anything better to do on a night
like this than to wear yourself and Norman out tearing across the
country to your father's and back？ Besides； your father won't
live forever； you know。 His little place will be shut up or
sold； and then you'll have nobody but the Ericsons。 You'll have
to fasten down the hatches for the winter then。〃
Clara moved her head restlessly。 〃Don't talk about that。 I
try never to think of it。 If I lost Father I'd lose everything；
even my hold over the Ericsons。〃
〃Bah！ You'd lose a good deal more than that。 You'd lose
your race； everything that makes you yourself。 You've lost a
good deal of it now。〃
〃Of what？〃
〃Of your love of life； your capacity for delight。〃
Clara put her hands up to her face。 〃I haven't； Nils
Ericson； I haven't！ Say anything to me but that。 I won't have
it！〃 she declared vehemently。
Nils led the horse up to a straw stack； and turned to Clara；
looking at her intently； as he had looked at her that Sunday
afternoon at Vavrika's。 〃But why do you fight for that so？ What
good is the power to enjoy； if you never enjoy？ Your hands are
cold again； what are you afraid of all the time？ Ah； you're
afraid of losing it； that's what's the matter with you！ And you
will； Clara Vavrika； you will