还剩5页未读,继续阅读
文本内容:
IbandChristine依卜和小克丽斯打IntheforestthatextendsfromthebanksoftheGudenauinNorthJutlandalongwayintothecountryandnotfarfromtheclearstreamrisesagreatridgeoflandwhichstretchesthroughthewoodlikeawall.Westwardofthisridgeandnotfarfromtheriverstandsafarmhousesurroundedbysuchpoorlandthatthesandysoilshowsitselfbetweenthescantyearsofryeandwheatwhichgrowinit.Someyearshavepassedsincethepeoplewholivedherecultivatedthesefields;theykeptthreesheepapigandtwooxen;infacttheymaintainedthemselvesverywelltheyhadquiteenoughtoliveuponaspeoplegenerallyhavewhoarecontentwiththeirlot.Theyevencouldhaveaffordedtokeeptwohorsesbutitwasasayingamongthefarmersinthoseparts“Thehorseeatshimselfup;thatistosayheeatsasmuchasheearns.JeppeJanscultivatedhisfieldsinsummerandinthewinterhemadewoodenshoes.Healsohadanassistantaladwhounderstoodaswellashehimselfdidhowtomakewoodenshoesstrongbutlightandinthefashion.Theycarvedshoesandspoonswhichpaidwell;thereforenoonecouldjustlycallJeppeJansandhisfamilypoorpeople.LittleIbaboyofsevenyearsoldandtheonlychildwouldsitbywatchingtheworkmenorcuttingastickandsometimeshisfingerinsteadofthestick.ButonedayIbsucceededsowellinhiscarvingthathemadetwopiecesofwoodlookreallyliketwolittlewoodenshoesandhedeterminedtogivethemasapresenttoLittleChristina.“AndwhowasLittleChristinaShewastheboatmansdaughtergracefulanddelicateasthechildofagentleman;hadshebeendresseddifferentlynoonewouldhavebelievedthatshelivedinahutontheneighboringheathwithherfather.Hewasawidowerandearnedhislivingbycarryingfirewoodinhislargeboatfromtheforesttotheeel-pondandeel-weirontheestateofSilkborgandsometimeseventothedistanttownofRanders.TherewasnooneunderwhosecarehecouldleaveLittleChristina;soshewasalmostalwayswithhiminhisboatorplayinginthewoodamongtheblossomingheathorpickingtheripewildberries.SometimeswhenherfatherhadtogoasfarasthetownhewouldtakeLittleChristinawhowasayearyoungerthanIbacrosstheheathtothecottageofJeppeJansandleaveherthere.IbandChristinaagreedtogetherineverything;theydividedtheirbreadandberrieswhentheywerehungry;theywerepartnersindiggingtheirlittlegardens;theyranandcreptandplayedabouteverywhere.Oncetheywanderedalongwayintotheforestandevenventuredtogethertoclimbthehighridge.Anothertimetheyfoundafewsnipeseggsinthewoodwhichwasagreatevent.IbhadneverbeenontheheathwhereChristinasfatherlivednorontheriver;butatlastcameanopportunity.Christinasfatherinvitedhimtogoforasailinhisboat;andtheeveningbeforeheaccompaniedtheboatmanacrosstheheathtohishouse.ThenextmorningearlythetwochildrenwereplacedonthetopofahighpileoffirewoodintheboatandsateatingbreadandwildstrawberrieswhileChristinasfatherandhismandrovetheboatforwardwithpoles.Theyfloatedonswiftlyforthetidewasintheirfavorpassingoverlakesformedbythestreaminitscourse;sometimestheyseemedquiteenclosedbyreedsandwater-plantsyettherewasalwaysroomforthemtopassoutalthoughtheoldtreesoverhungthewaterandtheoldoaksstretchedouttheirbarebranchesasiftheyhadturneduptheirsleevesandwishedtoshowtheirknottynakedarms.Oldalder-treeswhoserootswereloosenedfromthebanksclungwiththeirfibrestothebottomofthestreamandthetopsofthebranchesabovethewaterlookedlikelittlewoodyislands.Thewater-lilieswavedthemselvestoandfroontherivereverythingmadetheexcursionbeautifulandatlasttheycametothegreateel-weirwherethewaterrushedthroughtheflood-gates;andthechildrenthoughtthisabeautifulsight.Inthosedaystherewasnofactorynoranytownhousenothingbutthegreatfarmwithitsscanty-bearingfieldsinwhichcouldbeseenafewherdofcattleandoneortwofarmlaborers.TherushingofthewaterthroughthesluicesandthescreamofthewildduckswerealmosttheonlysignsofactivelifeatSilkborg.AfterthefirewoodhadbeenunloadedChristinasfatherboughtawholebundleofeelsandasucking-pigwhichwereallplacedinabasketinthesternoftheboat.Thentheyreturnedagainupthestream;andasthewindwasfavorabletwosailswerehoistedwhichcarriedtheboatonaswellasiftwohorseshadbeenharnessedtoit.Astheysailedontheycamebychancetotheplacewheretheboatmansassistantlivedatalittledistancefromthebankoftheriver.Theboatwasmoored;andthetwomenafterdesiringthechildrentositstillbothwentonshore.theyobeyedthisorderforaveryshorttimeandthenforgotitaltogether.Firsttheypeepedintothebasketcontainingtheeelsandthesucking-pig;thentheymustneedspulloutthepigandtakeitintheirhandsandfeelitandtouchit;andastheybothwantedtoholditatthesametimetheconsequencewasthattheyletitfallintothewaterandthepigsailedawaywiththestream.Herewasaterribledisaster.Ibjumpedashoreandranalittledistancefromtheboat.“Ohtakemewithyou“criedChristina;andshesprangafterhim.Inafewminutestheyfoundthemselvesdeepinathicketandcouldnolongerseetheboatortheshore.TheyranonalittlefartherandthenChristinafelldownandbegantocry.Ibhelpedherupandsaid“Nevermind;followme.Yonderisthehouse.Butthehousewasnotyonder;andtheywanderedstillfartheroverthedryrustlingleavesofthelastyearandtreadingonfallenbranchesthatcrackledundertheirlittlefeet;thentheyheardaloudpiercingcryandtheystoodstilltolisten.Presentlythescreamofaneaglesoundedthroughthewood;itwasanuglycryanditfrightenedthechildren;butbeforetheminthethickestpartoftheforestgrewthemostbeautifulblackberriesinwonderfulquantities.Theylookedsoinvitingthatthechildrencouldnothelpstopping;andtheyremainedtheresolongeatingthattheirmouthsandcheeksbecamequiteblackwiththejuice.PresentlytheyheardthefrightfulscreamagainandChristinasaid“Weshallgetintotroubleaboutthatpig.”“Ohnevermind“saidIb;wewillgohometomyfathershouse.Itishereinthewood.Sotheywentonbuttheroadledthemoutoftheway;nohousecouldbeseenitgrewdarkandthechildrenwereafraid.Thesolemnstillnessthatreignedaroundthemwasnowandthenbrokenbytheshrillcriesofthegreathornedowlandotherbirdsthattheyknewnothingof.Atlasttheybothlostthemselvesinthethicket;Christinabegantocryandthenlbcriedtoo;andafterweepingandlamentingforsometimetheystretchedthemselvesdownonthedryleavesandfellasleep.Thesunwashighintheheavenswhenthetwochildrenwoke.Theyfeltcold;butnotfarfromtheirresting-placeonahillthesunwasshiningthroughthetrees.Theythoughtiftheywenttheretheyshouldbewarmandlbfanciedheshouldbeabletoseehisfathershousefromsuchahighspot.Buttheywerefarawayfromhomenowinquiteanotherpartoftheforest.Theyclamberedtothetopoftherisinggroundandfoundthemselvesontheedgeofadeclivitywhichslopeddowntoacleartransparentlake.Greatquantitiesoffishcouldbeseenthroughtheclearwatersparklinginthesunsrays;theywerequitesurprisedwhentheycamesosuddenlyuponsuchanunexpectedsight.Closetowheretheystoodgrewahazel-bushcoveredwithbeautifulnuts.Theysoongatheredsomecrackedthemandatethefineyoungkernelswhichwereonlyjustripe.Buttherewasanothersurpriseandfrightinstoreforthem.Outofthethicketsteppedatalloldwomanherfacequitebrownandherhairofadeepshiningblack;thewhitesofhereyesglitteredlikeaMoors;onherbackshecarriedabundleandinherhandaknottedstick.Shewasagypsy.Thechildrendidnotatfirstunderstandwhatshesaid.Shedrewoutofherpocketthreelargenutsinwhichshetoldthemwerehiddenthemostbeautifulandlovelythingsintheworldfortheywerewishingnuts.Iblookedatherandasshespokesokindlyhetookcourageandaskedherifshewouldgivehimthenuts;andthewomangavethemtohimandthengatheredsomemorefromthebushesforherselfquiteapocketfull.IbandChristinalookedatthewishingnutswithwideopeneyes.“Isthereinthisnutacarriagewithapairofhorses”askedlb.“Yesthereisagoldencarriagewithtwogoldenhorses“repliedthewoman.“Thengivemethatnut“saidChristina;soIbgaveittoherandthestrangewomantiedupthenutforherinherhandkerchief.Ibheldupanothernut.IsthereinthisnutaprettylittleneckerchiefliketheoneChristinahasonherneck”askedIb.“Therearetenneckerchiefsinitshereplied“aswellasbeautifuldressesstockingsandahatandveil.”“ThenIwillhavethatonealso“saidChristina;anditisaprettyonetoo.”AndthenIbgaveherthesecondnut.Thethirdwasalittleblackthing.Youmaykeepthatone“saidChristina;itisquiteaspretty.”“Whatisinit”askedIb.“Thebestofallthingsforyou“repliedthegypsy.SoIbheldthenutverytight.Thenthewomanpromisedtoleadthechildrentotherightpaththattheymightfindtheirwayhome:andtheywentforwardcertainlyinquiteanotherdirectiontotheonetheymeanttotake;thereforenooneoughttospeakagainstthewomanandsaythatshewantedtostealthechildren.Inthewildwood-paththeymetaforesterwhoknewIbandbyhishelpIbandChristinareachedhomewheretheyfoundeveryonehadbeenveryanxiousaboutthem.Theywerepardonedandforgivenalthoughtheyreallyhadbothdonewronganddeservedtogetintotrouble;firstbecausetheyhadletthesucking-pigfallintothewater;andsecondlybecausetheyhadrunaway.Christinawastakenbacktoherfathershouseontheheathandlbremainedinthefarm-houseonthebordersofthewoodnearthegreatlandridge.Thefirstthinglbdidthateveningwastotakeoutofhispocketthelittleblacknutinwhichthebestthingofallwassaidtobeenclosed.Helaiditcarefullybetweenthedoorandthedoor-postandthenshutthedoorsothatthenutcrackeddirectly.Buttherewasnotmuchkerneltobeseen;itwaswhatweshouldcallholloworworm-eatenandlookedasifithadbeenfilledwithtobaccoorrichblackearth.“ItisjustwhatIexpected!”exclaimedlb.HowshouldthereberoominalittlenutlikethisforthebestthingofallChristinawillfindhertwonutsjustthesame;therewillbeneitherfineclothesoragoldencarriageinthem.”Wintercame;andthenewyearandindeedmanyyearspassedaway;untillbwasoldenoughtobeconfirmedandthereforehewentduringawholewintertotheclergymanofthenearestvillagetobeprepared.OnedayaboutthistimetheboatmanpaidavisittolbsparentsandtoldthemthatChristinawasgoingtoserviceandthatshehadbeenremarkablyfortunateinobtainingagoodplacewithmostrespectablepeople.Onlythink“hesaid“SheisgoingtotherichinnkeepersatthehotelinHerningmanymileswestfromhere.Sheistoassistthelandladyinthehousekeeping;andifafterwardsshebehaveswellandremainstobeconfirmedthepeoplewilltreatherastheirowndaughter.”SolbandChristinatookleaveofeachother.Peoplealreadycalledthemthebetrothed“andatpartingthegirlshowedlbthetwonutswhichshehadtakencareofeversincethetimethattheylostthemselvesinthewood;andshetoldhimalsothatthelittlewoodenshoesheoncecarvedforherwhenhewasaboyandgaveherasapresenthadbeencarefullykeptinadrawereversince.Andsotheyparted.Afterlbsconfirmationheremainedathomewithhismotherforhehadbecomeaclevershoemakerandinsummermanagedthefarmforherquitealone.Hisfatherhadbeendeadsometimeandhismotherkeptnofarmservants.SometimesbutveryseldomheheardofChristinathroughapostillionoreel-sellerwhowaspassing.Butshewaswelloffwiththerichinnkeeper;andafterbeingconfirmedshewrotealettertoherfatherinwhichwasakindmessagetolbandhismother.Inthislettershementionedthathermasterandmistresshadmadeherapresentofabeautifulnewdressandsomeniceunder-clothes.Thiswasofcoursepleasantnews.Onedayinthefollowingspringtherecameaknockatthedoorofthehousewherelbsoldmotherlived;andwhentheyopeneditloandbeholdinsteppedtheboatmanandChristina.Shehadcometopaythemavisitandtospendtheday.AcarriagehadtocomefromtheHerninghoteltothenextvillageandshehadtakentheopportunitytoseeherfriendsoncemore.Shelookedaselegantasarealladyandworeaprettydressbeautifullymadeonpurposeforher.Thereshestoodinfulldresswhilelbworeonlyhisworkingclothes.Hecouldnotutteraword;hecouldonlyseizeherhandandholditfastinhisownbuthefelttoohappyandgladtoopenhislips.Christinahoweverwasquiteatherease;shetalkedandtalkedandkissedhiminthemostfriendlymanner.Evenafterwardswhentheywereleftaloneandsheasked“Didyouknowmeagainlb”hestillstoodholdingherhandandsaidatlast“YouarebecomequiteagrandladyChristinaandIamonlyaroughworkingman;butIhaveoftenthoughtofyouandofoldtimes.Thentheywanderedupthegreatridgeandlookedacrossthestreamtotheheathwherethelittlehillswerecoveredwiththefloweringbroom.Ibsaidnothing;butbeforethetimecameforthemtopartitbecamequitecleartohimthatChristinamustbehiswife:hadtheynoteveninchildhoodbeencalledthebetrothedTohimitseemedasiftheywerereallyengagedtoeachotheralthoughnotawordhadbeenspokenonthesubject.TheyhadonlyafewmorehourstoremaintogetherforChristinawasobligedtoreturnthateveningtotheneighboringvillagetobereadyforthecarriagewhichwastostartthenextmorningearlyforHerning.Ibandherfatheraccompaniedhertothevillage.Itwasafinemoonlightevening;andwhentheyarrivedIbstoodholdingChristinashandinhisasifhecouldnotlethergo.Hiseyesbrightenedandthewordsheutteredcamewithhesitationfromhislipsbutfromthedeepestrecessesofhisheart:uChristinaifyouhavenotbecometoograndandifyoucanbecontentedtoliveinmymothershouseasmywifewewillbemarriedsomeday.Butwecanwaitforawhile.”“Ohyes“shereplied;LetuswaitalittlelongerIb.IcantrustyouforIbelievethatIdoloveyou.Butletmethinkitover.Thenhekissedherlips;andsotheyparted.OnthewayhomeIbtoldtheboatmanthatheandChristinawereasgoodasengagedtoeachother;andtheboatmanfoundoutthathehadalwaysexpecteditwouldbesoandwenthomewithIbthateveningandremainedthenightinthefarmhouse;butnothingfurtherwassaidoftheengagement.DuringthenextyeartwoletterspassedbetweenIbandChristina.Theyweresigned“Faithfultilldeath;butattheendofthattimeonedaytheboatmancameovertoseeIbwithakindgreetingfromChristina.Hehadsomethingelsetosaywhichmadehimhesitateinastrangemanner.AtlastitcameoutthatChristinawhohadgrownaveryprettygirlwasmoreluckythanever.Shewascourtedandadmiredbyeveryone;buthermasterssonwhohadbeenhomeonavisitwassomuchpleasedwithChristinathathewishedtomarryher.HehadaverygoodsituationinanofficeatCopenhagenandasshehadalsotakenalikingforhimhisparentswerenotunwillingtoconsent.ButChristinainherheartoftenthoughtofIbandknewhowmuchhethoughtofher;soshefeltinclinedtorefusethisgoodfortuneaddedtheboatman.AtfirstIbsaidnotawordbuthebecameaswhiteasthewallandshookhisheadgentlyandthenhespoke一Christinamustnotrefusethisgoodfortune.”“Thenwillyouwriteafewwordstoher”saidtheboatman.Ibsatdowntowritebuthecouldnotgetonatall.Thewordswerenotwhathewishedtosaysohetoreupthepage.ThefollowingmorninghoweveraletterlayreadytobesenttoChristinaandthefollowingiswhathewrote:一“TheletterwrittenbyyoutoyourfatherIhavereadandseefromitthatyouareprosperousineverythingandthatstillbetterfortuneisinstoreforyou.AskyourownheartChristinaandthinkovercarefullywhatawaitsyouifyoutakemeforyourhusbandforIpossessverylittleintheworld.Donotthinkofmeorofmyposition;thinkonlyofyourownwelfare.Youareboundtomebynopromises;andifinyourheartyouhavegivenmeoneIreleaseyoufromit.MayeveryblessingandhappinessbepouredoutuponyouChristina.Heavenwillgivemetheheartsconsolation.EveryoursincerefriendIB.”ThisletterwassentandChristinareceiveditinduetime.InthecourseofthefollowingNovemberherbannswerepublishedinthechurchontheheathandalsoinCopenhagenwherethebridegroomlived.ShewastakentoCopenhagenundertheprotectionofherfuturemother-in-lawbecausethebridegroomcouldnotsparetimefromhisnumerousoccupationsforajourneysofarintoJutland.OnthejourneyChristinametherfatheratoneofthevillagesthroughwhichtheypassedandherehetookleaveofher.Verylittlewassaidaboutthemattertolbandhedidnotrefertoit;hismotherhowevernoticedthathehadgrownverysilentandpensive.ThinkingashedidofoldtimesnowonderthethreenutscameintohismindwhichthegypsywomanhadgivenhimwhenachildandofthetwowhichhehadgiventoChristina.Thesewishingnutsafterallhadprovedtruefortune-tellers.Onehadcontainedagildedcarriageandnoblehorsesandtheotherbeautifulclothes;alloftheseChristinawouldnowhaveinhernewhomeatCopenhagen.Herparthadcometrue.Andforhimthenuthadcontainedonlyblackearth.Thegypsywomanhadsaiditwasthebestforhim.Perhapsitwasandthisalsowouldbefulfilled.Heunderstoodthegypsywomansmeaningnow.Theblackearth一thedarkgrave一wasthebestthingforhimnow.Againyearspassedaway;notmanybuttheyseemedlongyearstolb.Theoldinnkeeperandhiswifediedoneaftertheother;andthewholeoftheirpropertymanythousanddollarswasinheritedbytheirson.Christinacouldhavethegoldencarriagenowandplentyoffineclothes.DuringthetwolongyearswhichfollowednolettercamefromChristinatoherfather;andwhenatlastherfatherreceivedonefromheritdidnotspeakofprosperityorhappiness.PoorChristina!Neithershenorherhusbandunderstoodhowtoeconomizeorsaveandtherichesbroughtnoblessingwiththembecausetheyhadnotaskedforit.Yearspassed;andformanysummerstheheathwascoveredwithbloom;inwinterthesnowresteduponitandtheroughwindsblewacrosstheridgeunderwhichstoodlbsshelteredhome.Onespringdaythesunshonebrightlyandhewasguidingtheploughacrosshisfield.Theploughsharestruckagainstsomethingwhichhefanciedwasafirestoneandthenhesawglitteringintheearthasplinterofshiningmetalwhichtheploughhadcutfromsomethingwhichgleamedbrightlyinthefurrow.HesearchedandfoundalargegoldenarmletofsuperiorworkmanshipanditwasevidentthattheploughhaddisturbedaHunsgrave.Hesearchedfurtherandfoundmorevaluabletreasureswhichlbshowedtotheclergymanwhoexplainedtheirvaluetohim.Thenhewenttothemagistratewhoinformedthepresidentofthemuseumofthediscoveryandadvisedlbtotakethetreasureshimselftothepresident.“Youhavefoundintheearththebestthingyoucouldfind“saidthemagistrate.“Thebestthing“thoughtlb;theverybestthingforme―andfoundintheearth!Wellifitreallyissothenthegypsywomanwasrightinherprophecy.”Solbwentintheferry-boatfromAarhustoCopenhagen.Tohimwhohadonlysailedonceortwiceontherivernearhisownhomethisseemedlikeavoyageontheocean;andatlengthhearrivedatCopenhagen.Thevalueofthegoldhehadfoundwaspaidtohim;itwasalargesum一sixhundreddollars.Thenlboftheheathwentoutandwanderedaboutinthegreatcity.Ontheeveningbeforethedayhehadsettledtoreturnwiththecaptainofthepassage-boatlblosthimselfinthestreetsandtookquiteadifferentturningtotheonehewishedtofollow.HewanderedontillhefoundhimselfinapoorstreetofthesuburbcalledChristiansHaven.Notacreaturecouldbeseen.Atlastaverylittlegirlcameoutofoneofthewretched-lookinghousesandlbaskedhertotellhimthewaytothestreethewanted;shelookeduptimidlyathimandbegantocrybitterly.Heaskedherwhatwasthematter;butwhatshesaidhecouldnotunderstand.Sohewentalongthestreetwithher;andastheypassedunderalampthelightfellonthelittlegirlsface.Astrangesensationcameoverlbashecaughtsightofit.ThelivingbreathingembodimentofLittleChristinastoodbeforehimjustasherememberedherinthedaysofherchildhood.Hefollowedthechildtothewretchedhouseandascendedthenarrowcrazystaircasewhichledtoalittlegarretintheroof.Theairintheroomwasheavyandstiflingnolightwasburningandfromonecornercamesoundsofmoaningandsighing.Itwasthemotherofthechildwholaythereonamiserablebed.Withthehelpofamatchlbstruckalightandapproachedher.“CanIbeofanyservicetoyou”heasked.Thislittlegirlbroughtmeuphere;butIamastrangerinthiscity.AretherenoneighborsoranyonewhomIcancall”Thenheraisedtheheadofthesickwomanandsmoothedherpillow.Hestartedashedidso.ItwasChristinaoftheheath!Noonehadmentionedhernametolbforyears;itwouldhavedisturbedhispeaceofmindespeciallyasthereportsrespectingherwerenotgood.Thewealthwhichherhusbandhadinheritedfromhisparentshadmadehimproudandarrogant.Hehadgivenuphiscertainappointmentandtravelledforsixmonthsinforeignlandsandonhisreturnhadlivedingreatstyleandgotintoterribledebt.Foratimehehadtrembledonthehighpedestalonwhichhehadplacedhimselftillatlasthetoppledoverandruincame.Hisnumerousmerrycompanionsandthevisitorsathistablesaiditservedhimrightforhehadkepthouselikeamadman.Onemorninghiscorpsewasfoundinthecanal.ThecoldhandofdeathhadalreadytouchedtheheartofChristina.Heryoungestchildlookedforinthemidstofprosperityhadsunkintothegravewhenonlyafewweeksold;andatlastChristinaherselfbecamesickuntodeathandlayforsakenanddyinginamiserableroomamidpovertyshemighthaveborneinheryoungerdaysbutwhichwasnowmorepainfultoherfromtheluxuriestowhichshehadlatelybeenaccustomed.ItwashereldestchildalsoaLittleChristinawhomlbhadfollowedtoherhomewhereshesufferedhungerandpovertywithhermother.“ItmakesmeunhappytothinkthatIshalldieandleavethispoorchild“sighedshe.Ohwhatwillbecomeofher”Shecouldsaynomore.Thenlbbroughtoutanothermatchandlightedapieceofcandlewhichhefoundintheroomanditthrewaglimmeringlightoverthewretcheddwelling.IblookedatthelittlegirlandthoughtofChristinainheryoungdays.ForhersakecouldhenotlovethischildwhowasastrangertohimAshethusreflectedthedyingwomanopenedhereyesandgazedathim.DidsherecognizehimHeneverknew;fornotanotherwordescapedherlips.IntheforestbytheriverGudenaunotfarfromtheheathandbeneaththeridgeoflandstoodthelittlefarmnewlypaintedandwhitewashed.Theairwasheavyanddark;therewerenoblossomsontheheath;theautumnwindswhirledtheyellowleavestowardstheboatmanshutinwhichstrangersdwelt;butthelittlefarmstoodsafelyshelteredbeneaththetalltreesandthehighridge.Theturfblazedbrightlyonthehearthandwithinwassunlightthesparklinglightfromthesunnyeyesofachild;thebirdliketonesfromtherosylipsringinglikethesongofalarkinspring.Allwaslifeandjoy.LittleChristinasatonIbsknee.Ibwastoherbothfatherandmother;herownparentshadvanishedfromhermemoryasadream-picturevanishesalikefromchildhoodandage.Ibshousewaswe11andprettilyfurnished;forhewasaprosperousmannowwhilethemotherofthelittlegirlrestedinthechurchyardatCopenhagenwhereshehaddiedinpoverty.Ibhadmoneynow一moneywhichhadcometohimoutoftheblackearth;andhehadChristinaforhisownafterall.。