登陆注册
5249900000023

第23章

The winter was half gone; and in all this time Brita had hardly once seen Halvard. Yes, once,--it was Christmas-day,--she had ventured to peep over to his pew in the church, and had seen him, sitting at his father's side, and gazing vacantly out into the empty space; but as he had caught her glance, he had blushed, and began eagerly to turn the leaves of his hymn- book. It troubled her that he made no effort to see her; many an evening she had walked alone down at the river-side, hoping that he might come; but it was all in vain. She could not but believe that his father must have made some discovery, and that he was watched. In the mean time the black cloud thickened over her head; for a secret gnawed at thevery roots of her heart. It was a time of terrible suspense and suffering-- such as a man never knows, such as only a woman can endure. It was almost a relief when the cloud burst, and the storm broke loose, as presently it did.

One Sunday, early in April, Bjarne did not return at the usual hour from church. His daughters waited in vain for him with the dinner, and at last began to grow uneasy. It was not his habit to keep irregular hours. There was a great excitement in the valley just then; the America-fever had broken out. A large vessel was lying out in the fjord, ready to take the emigrants away; and there was hardly a family that did not mourn the loss of some brave-hearted son, or of some fair and cherished daughter. The old folks, of course, had to remain behind; and when the children were gone, what was there left for them but to lie down and die? America was to them as distant as if it were on another planet. The family feeling, too, has ever been strong in the Norseman's breast; he lives for his children, and seems to live his life over again in them. It is his greatest pride to be able to trace his blood back into the days of Sverre and St. Olaf, and with the same confidence he expects to see his race spread into the future in the same soil where once it has struck root. Then comes the storm from the Western seas, wrestles with the sturdy trunk, and breaks it; and the shattered branches fly to all the four corners of the heavens. No wonder, then, like a tree that has lost its crown, his strength is broken and he expects but to smoulder into the earth and die.

Bjarne Blakstad, like the sturdy old patriot that he was, had always fiercely denounced the America rage; and it was now the hope of his daughters that, perhaps, he had stayed behind to remind the restless ones among the youth of their duty toward their land, or to frighten some bold emigration agent who might have been too loud in his declamations. But it was already eight o'clock and Bjarne was not yet to be seen. The night was dark and stormy; a cold sleet fiercely lashed the window-panes, and the wind roared in the chimney. Grimhild, the younger sister, ran restlessly out and in and slammed the doors after her. Brita sat tightly pressed up against the wall in the darkest corner of the room. Every time the wind shook the house she started up; then again seated herself andshuddered.Dark forebodings filled her soul.

At last,--the clock had just struck ten,--there was a noise heard in the outer hall. Grimhild sprang to the door and tore it open. A tall, stooping figure entered, and by the dress she at once recognized her father.

"Good God," cried she, and ran up to him.

"Go away, child," muttered he, in a voice that sounded strangely unfamiliar, and he pushed her roughly away. For a moment he stood still, then stalked up to the table, and, with a heavy thump, dropped down into a chair. There he remained with his elbows resting on his knees, and absently staring on the floor. His long hair hung in wet tangles down over his face, and the wrinkles about his mouth seemed deeper and fiercer than usual. Now and then he sighed, or gave vent to a deep groan. In a while his eyes began to wander uneasily about the room; and as they reached the corner where Brita was sitting, he suddenly darted up, as if stung by something poisonous, seized a brand from the hearth, and rushed toward her.

"Tell me I did not see it," he broke forth, in a hoarse whisper, seizing her by the arm and thrusting the burning brand close up to her face. "Tell me it is a lie--a black, poisonous lie."She raised her eyes slowly to his and gazed steadfastly into his face. "Ah," he continued in the same terrible voice, "it was what I told them down there at the church--a lie--an infernal lie. And I drew blood--blood, I say--I did--from the slanderer. Ha, ha, ha! What a lusty sprawl that was!"The color came and departed from Brita's cheeks. And still she was strangely self possessed. She even wondered at her own calmness. Alas, she did not know that it was a calmness that is more terrible than pain, the corpse of a forlorn and hopeless heart.

"Child," continued Bjarne, and his voice assumed a more natural tone, "why dost thou not speak? They have lied about thee, child, because thou art fair, they have envied thee." Then, almost imploringly, "Open thy mouth, Brita, and tell thy father that thou art pure-- pure as the snow, child--my own--my beautiful child."There was a long and painful pause, in which the crackling of thebrand, and the heavy breathing of the old man were the only sounds to break the silence. Pale like a marble image stood she before him; no word of excuse, no prayer for forgiveness escaped her; only a convulsive quivering of the lips betrayed the life that struggled within her. With every moment the hope died in Bjarne's bosom. His visage was fearful to behold. Terror and fierce indomitable hatred had grimly distorted his features, and his eyes burned like fire-coals beneath his bushy brows.

"Harlot," he shrieked, "harlot!"

同类推荐
  • 小儿诊视门

    小儿诊视门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 三时系念仪范

    三时系念仪范

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Fall of the House of Usher

    The Fall of the House of Usher

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 奇门法窍

    奇门法窍

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 揵稚梵赞

    揵稚梵赞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 光明域

    光明域

    欢迎加入光明域小说作品交流群,群聊号码:829454971他,是一名少年,从小便经历了生死离别,从小便经历了颠沛流离,从小便经历了战场生死……仅仅是一名少年!经历了如此诸多的坎坷,但是他仍然不放弃希望,他被赋予了光明的使命,最终他是否能够完成他的夙愿呢?这是一个充满法力的世界,每个人都可以修炼法力,世界因此强者如云,虽然存在六大帝国,但是世界依然混乱不堪,各大种族之间争斗不已,各国之间尔虞我诈,在这乱世中他却有着一个纯真的爱情,为了守护这份爱情,他甘愿放弃一切,但是她为此却因此堕落,一个是天使,一个是恶魔,这份爱情最终能否终成眷属呢?
  • 送陈嘏登第作尉归觐

    送陈嘏登第作尉归觐

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Soul of Man

    The Soul of Man

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 涩涩的青春

    涩涩的青春

    这部小说讲述了一个生在贫困山村的美丽女孩韩青青的青春成长历程。从她贫穷的童年开始,韩青青一路成长遭遇了各种各样的不幸,她在这些磨难中不断成长,成熟,青春对于她,是苦涩的。她也明白,苦涩的才是真正的青春。
  • 攻略者们

    攻略者们

    人类探索未知的渴望远大于对于未知的恐惧。在这个六大深渊已经沦为资源产出工具的时代,世界第一奇迹,也是世界最后神秘的“塔”成为了探索者们最后的圣地。这一次又一批新的攻略者们被选出来了,他们或是主动追求,或是被动接受,亦或是另有所图。这是属于攻略者们的舞台,这是属于攻略者们的故事。
  • 指鹿为马:赵高

    指鹿为马:赵高

    赵高(?-前207),中国秦朝二世皇帝时丞相,著名宦官(一说并非宦官)。是中国历史上第一个有名气的宦官。秦始皇死后与李斯合谋篡改诏书,立始皇幼子胡亥为帝,并逼死始皇长子扶苏。秦二世即位后设计陷害李斯,并成为丞相。后派人杀死秦二世,不久后被秦王子婴所杀。《中国文化知识读本·指鹿为马:赵高》以简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,介绍赵高的有关内容。
  • 游戏中发现我爱你

    游戏中发现我爱你

    现实中遇上他的第一天,他帮她上了区服第一,也是那天开始,她有幸成为江湖人人喊打的人妖七娘。游戏中遇上他的第一天,他被她坑入衙门大牢,也是那天开始,七娘有了徒弟公子闻。可是,论七娘怎么想也没想明白,昔日的徒弟有一天生出了对她不可知的情愫。以前,拉着徒弟出去溜达,让他做什么他就做什么,惹得旁人羡慕。现在,徒弟长了一张小白脸,行事风格颇有一代掌门的秉性。虽为蓬莱小弟子,却担着七娘首席弟子的名号对她指手画脚,旁人在场,他竟说娶她?虽说,此徒帅且能打,拉出溜达也长脸,但是,她并不只有徒弟一个追求者!现实中,有个他一直罩着她,虽然毒舌她,但却一心为她着想。游戏上,一个徒弟明着追求她,什么好的都留给她,去哪儿都汇报给她。还有一个掌门,听她心事,暖了她冰冷的心。……最终她还是选择了超有安全感的帅气掌门~谁知,游戏成婚当晚:她问:“你就不吃醋?”他:“为何这么说?”她:“我徒弟和闻言的醋啊?”他顿了一会儿,松了口气再言:“我还没自我介绍,我是闻言,公子闻是我的小号。”她如晴天霹雳般后退几步,一定要逃婚!手已经落在离婚的按钮上,忽然系统按钮一黑,耳旁只响起他的话。“哦,忘记说了,我是这款游戏的创始人。”
  • 都市修仙新玄界

    都市修仙新玄界

    千年前,灵气日渐枯竭,不适修行,自此地球上修行者渐渐退出人们视野。千年后,身为养子的他,面临着入赘的困境,因反抗而遭鬼魂夺舍,最后却险得机遇,此后鲤鱼跃龙门,硬闯都市古武,并渐渐打开已消失的修行界的大门。
  • 暮秘战线

    暮秘战线

    “人有无数次想活着或死的机会,总得做个选择不是么?”“真正决定你命运的,只在一线之隔。”“现实的各方压力很大吧?但这里可以尽情的发泄,这里逃脱了法律的制裁,尽情的发泄吧!”无数交错纵横的空间内,匿藏着数不尽的故事与冒险:微塞纳河浮水的澄澈、奎木之森的藏影、虹罇天弈的秘境……所以,从此刻开始;身心只由你自己支配;无论你做什么都是自由的;这里没有极致的善与恶、豁确的是与非;这只有专属于你自己的天堂。
  • 金谷怀古

    金谷怀古

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。