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！
had always irritated him。 It irritated him now； but the irritation
was against himself。
〃You were sleeping so soundly when I came in last night〃 Christina
commenced。
〃And you were afraid to wake me；〃 Nicholas interrupted her。 〃You
thought the old curmudgeon would be cross。 Listen； Christina。 You
paid off yesterday the last debt your father owed。 It was to an old
sailorI had not been able to find him before。 Not a cent more do
you owe； and there remains to you； out of your wages； a hundred
florins。 It is yours whenever you like to ask me for it。〃
Christina could not understand； neither then nor during the days that
followed； nor did Nicholas enlighten her。 For the soul of Jan had
entered into a very wise old man； who knew that the best way to live
down the past is to live boldly the present。 All that Christina could
be sure of was that the old Nicholas Snyders had mysteriously
vanished； that in his place remained a new Nicholas； who looked at her
with kindly eyesfrank and honest； compelling confidence。 Though
Nicholas never said so； it came to Christina that she herself； her
sweet example； her ennobling influence it was that had wrought this
wondrous change。 And to Christina the explanation seemed not
impossibleseemed even pleasing。
The sight of his littered desk was hateful to him。 Starting early in
the morning； Nicholas would disappear for the entire day； returning in
the evening tired but cheerful； bringing with him flowers that
Christina laughed at； telling him they were weeds。 But what mattered
names？ To Nicholas they were beautiful。 In Zandam the children ran
from him； the dogs barked after him。 So Nicholas； escaping through
byways； would wander far into the country。 Children in the villages
around came to know a kind old fellow who loved to linger； his hands
resting on his staff； watching their play； listening to their
laughter； whose ample pockets were storehouses of good things。 Their
elders； passing by； would whisper to one another how like he was in
features to wicked old Nick； the miser of Zandam； and would wonder
where he came from。 Nor was it only the faces of the children that
taught his lips to smile。 It troubled him at first to find the world
so full of marvellously pretty girlsof pretty women also； all more
or less lovable。 It bewildered him。 Until he found that；
notwithstanding； Christina remained always in his thoughts the
prettiest； the most lovable of them all。 Then every pretty face
rejoiced him： it reminded him of Christina。
On his return the second day； Christina had met him with sadness in
her eyes。 Farmer Beerstraater； an old friend of her father's； had
called to see Nicholas； not finding Nicholas； had talked a little with
Christina。 A hardhearted creditor was turning him out of his farm。
Christina pretended not to know that the creditor was Nicholas
himself； but marvelled that such wicked men could be。 Nicholas said
nothing； but the next day Farmer Beerstraater had called again； all
smiles； blessings； and great wonder。
〃But what can have come to him？〃 repeated Farmer Beerstraater over and
over。
Christina had smiled and answered that perhaps the good God had
touched his heart； but thought to herself that perhaps it had been the
good influence of another。 The tale flew。 Christina found herself
besieged on every hand； and； finding her intercessions invariably
successful； grew day by day more pleased with herself； and by
consequence more pleased with Nicholas Snyders。 For Nicholas was a
cunning old gentleman。 Jan's soul in him took delight in undoing the
evil the soul of Nicholas had wrought。 But the brain of Nicholas
Snyders that remained to him whispered： 〃Let the little maid think it
is all her doing。〃
The news reached the ears of Dame Toelast。 The same evening saw her
seated in the inglenook opposite Nicholas Snyders； who smoked and
seemed bored。
〃You are making a fool of yourself； Nicholas Snyders；〃 the Dame told
him。 〃Everybody is laughing at you。〃
〃I had rather they laughed than cursed me；〃 growled Nicholas。
〃Have you forgotten all that has passed between us？〃 demanded the
Dame。
〃Wish I could；〃 sighed Nicholas。
〃At your age〃 commenced the Dame。
〃I am feeling younger than I ever felt in all my life；〃 Nicholas
interrupted her。
〃You don't look it；〃 commented the Dame。
〃What do looks matter？〃 snapped Nicholas。 〃It is the soul of a man
that is the real man。〃
〃They count for something； as the world goes；〃 explained the Dame。
〃Why； if I liked to follow your example and make a fool of myself；
there are young men； fine young men； handsome young men〃
〃Don't let me stand in your way；〃 interposed Nicholas quickly。 〃As
you say； I am old and I have a devil of a temper。 There must be many
better men than I am； men more worthy of you。〃
〃I don't say there are not；〃 returned the Dame： 〃but nobody more
suitable。 Girls for boys； and old women for old men。 I haven't lost
my wits； Nicholas Snyders； if you have。 When you are yourself
again〃
Nicholas Snyders sprang to his feet。 〃I am myself；〃 he cried； 〃and
intend to remain myself！ Who dares say I am not myself？〃
〃I do；〃 retorted the Dame with exasperating coolness。〃 Nicholas
Snyders is not himself when at the bidding of a pretty…faced doll he
flings his money out of the window with both hands。 He is a creature
bewitched； and I am sorry for him。 She'll fool you for the sake of
her friends till you haven't a cent left； and then she'll laugh at
you。 When you are yourself； Nicholas Snyders； you will be crazy with
yourselfremember that。〃 And Dame Toelast marched out and slammed
the door behind her。
〃Girls for boys； and old women for old men。〃 The phrase kept ringing
in his ears。 Hitherto his new…found happiness had filled his life；
leaving no room for thought。 But the old Dame's words had sown the
seed of reflection。
Was Christina fooling him？ The thought was impossible。 Never once
had she pleaded for herself； never once for Jan。 The evil thought was
the creature of Dame Toelast's evil mind。 Christina loved him。 Her
face brightened at his coming。 The fear of him had gone out of her； a
pretty tyranny had replaced it。 But was it the love that he sought？
Jan's soul in old Nick's body was young and ardent。 It desired
Christina not as a daughter； but as a wife。 Could it win her in spite
of old Nick's body？ The soul of Jan was an impatient soul。 Better to
know than to doubt。
〃Do not light the candles； let us talk a little by the light of the
fire only；〃 said Nicholas。 And Christina； smiling； drew her chair
towards the blaze。 But Nicholas sat in the shadow。
〃You grow more beautiful every day； Christina；〃 said Nicholas
〃sweeter and more womanly。 He will be a happy man who calls you
wife。〃
The smile passed from Christina's face。 〃I shall never marry；〃 she
answered。 〃Never is a long word； little one。〃
〃A true woman does not marry the man she does not love。〃
〃But may she not marry the man she does？〃 smiled Nicholas。
〃Sometimes she may not；〃 Christina explained。
〃And when is that？〃
Christina's face was turned away。 〃When he has ceased to love
her。〃
The soul in old Nick's body leapt with joy。 〃He is not worthy of you；
Christina。 His new fortune has changed him。 Is it not so？ He thinks
only of money。 It is as though the soul of a miser had entered into
him。 He would marry even Dame Toelast for the sake of her gold…bags
and her broad lands and her many mills； if only she would have him。
Cannot you forget him？〃
〃I shall never forget him。 I shall never love another man。 I try to
hide it； and often I am content to find there is so much in the world
that I can do。 But my heart is breaking。〃 She rose and； kneeling
beside him； clasped her hands around him。 〃I am glad you have let me
tell you；〃 she said。 〃But for you I could not have borne it。 You are
so good to me。〃
For answer he stroked with his withered hand the golden hair that fell
disordered about his withered knees。 She raised her eyes to him； they
were filled with tears； but smiling。
〃I cannot understand；〃 she said。 〃I think sometimes that you and he
must have changed souls。 He is hard and mean and cruel； as you used
to be。〃 She laughed； and the arms around him tightened for a moment。
〃And now you are kind and tender and great； as once he was。 It is as
if the good God had taken away my lover from me to give to me a
father。〃
〃Listen to me； Christina；〃 he said。 〃It is the soul that is the man；
not the body。 Could you not love me for my new soul？〃
〃But I do love you；〃 answered Christina； smiling through her tears。
〃Could you as a husband？〃 The firelight fell upon her face。
Nicholas； holding it between his withered hands； looked into it long
and hard； and reading what he read there； laid it back against his
breast and soothed it with his withered hand。
〃I was jesting； little one；〃 he said。 〃Girls for boys； and old women
for old men。 And so； in spite of all； you still love Jan？〃
〃I love him；〃 answered Christina。 〃I cannot help it。〃
〃And if he would； you would marry him； let his soul be what it may？〃
〃I love him；〃 answered Chr