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！
of her sunny home at the river。
Gloomy as Lage usually was； he had his brighter moments； and people
noticed that these were most likely to occur when Aasa； his daughter； was
near。 Lage was probably also the only being whom Aasa's presence
could cheer； on other people it seemed to have the very opposite effect； for
Aasa wasaccording to the testimony of those who knew herthe most
peculiar creature that ever was born。 But perhaps no one did know her； if
her father was right； no one really didat least no one but himself。
Aasa was all to her father； she was his past and she was his future； his
hope and his life； and withal it must be admitted that those who judged her
without knowing her had at least in one respect as just an opinion of her as
he； for there was no denying that she was strange； very strange。 She
spoke when she ought to be silent； and was silent when it was proper to
speak； wept when she ought to laugh； and laughed when it was proper to
weep； but her laughter as well as her tears； her speech like her silence；
seemed to have their source from within her own soul； to be occasioned；
as it were； by something which no one else could see or hear。 It made
little difference where she was； if the tears came； she yielded to them as if
they were something she had long desired in vain。 Few could weep like
her； and 〃weep like Aasa Kvaerk；〃 was soon also added to the stock of
parish proverbs。 And then her laugh！ Tears may be inopportune enough；
when they come out of time； but laughter is far worse； and when poor
Aasa once burst out into a ringing laughter in church； and that while the
minister was pronouncing the benediction； it was only with the greatest
difficulty that her father could prevent the indignant congregation from
seizing her and carrying her before the sheriff for violation of the church…
peace。 Had she been poor and homely； then of course nothing could have
saved her； but she happened to be both rich and beautiful； and to wealth
and beauty much is pardoned。 Aasa's beauty； however； was also of a very
unusual kind； not the tame sweetness so common in her sex； but
something of the beauty of the falcon； when it swoops down upon the
126
… Page 127…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
unwatchful sparrow or soars round the lonely crags； something of the
mystic depth of the dark tarn； when with bodeful trembling you gaze down
into it； and see its weird traditions rise from its depth and hover over the
pine…tops in the morning fog。 Yet； Aasa was not dark； her hair was as fair
and yellow as a wheat…field in August； her forehead high and clear； and her
mouth and chin as if cut with a chisel； only her eyes were perhaps
somewhat deeper than is common in the North； and the longer you looked
at them the deeper they grew； just like the tarn； which； if you stare long
enough into it； you will find is as deep as the heavens above； that is； whose
depth only faith and fancy can fathom。 But however long you looked at
Aasa； you could never be quite sure that she looked at you； she seemed but
to half notice whatever went on around her； the look of her eye was
always more than half inward； and when it shone the brightest； it might
well happen that she could not have told you how many years she had
lived； or the name her father gave her in baptism。
Now Aasa was eighteen years old； and could knit； weave； and spin；
and it was full time that wooers should come。 〃But that is the
consequence of living in such an out…of…the…way place；〃 said her mother；
〃who will risk his limbs to climb that neck…breaking rock？ and the round…
about way over the forest is rather too long for a wooer。〃 Besides
handling the loom and the spinning…wheel； Aasa had also learned to churn
and make cheese to perfection； and whenever Elsie grieved at her strange
behavior she always in the end consoled herself with the reflection that
after all Aasa would make the man who should get her an excellent
housewife。
The farm of Kvaerk was indeed most singularly situated。 About a
hundred feet from the house the rough wall of the mountain rose steep and
threatening； and the most remarkable part of it was that the rock itself
caved inward and formed a lofty arch overhead； which looked like a huge
door leading into the mountain。 Some short distance below； the slope of
the fields ended in an abrupt precipice； far underneath lay the other farm…
houses of the valley； scattered like small red or gray dots； and the river
wound onward like a white silver stripe in the shelter of the dusky forest。
There was a path down along the rock； which a goat or a brisk lad might
127
… Page 128…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
be induced to climb； if the prize of the experiment were great enough to
justify the hazard。 The common road to Kvaerk made a large circuit
around the forest； and reached the valley far up at its northern end。
It was difficult to get anything to grow at Kvaerk。 In the spring all
the valley lay bare and green； before the snow had begun to think of
melting up there； and the night…frost would be sure to make a visit there；
while the fields along the river lay silently drinking the summer dew。 On
such occasions the whole family at Kvaerk would have to stay up during
all the night and walk back and forth on either side of the wheat…fields；
carrying a long rope between them and dragging it slowly over the heads
of the rye； to prevent the frost from settling； for as long as the ears could
be kept in motion； they could not freeze。 But what did thrive at Kvaerk
in spite of both snow and night…frost was legends； and they throve perhaps
the better for the very sterility of its material soil。 Aasa of course had
heard them all and knew them by heart； they had been her friends from
childhood； and her only companions。 All the servants； however； also
knew them and many others besides； and if they were asked how the
mansion of Kvaerk happened to be built like an eagle's nest on the brink of
a precipice； they would tell you the following：
Saint Olaf； Norway's holy king； in the time of his youth had sailed as a
Viking over the wide ocean； and in foreign lands had learned the doctrine
of Christ the White。 When he came home to claim the throne of his
hereditary kingdom； he brought with him tapers and black priests； and
commanded the people to overthrow the altars of Odin and Thor and to
believe alone in Christ the White。 If any still dared to slaughter a horse
to the old gods； he cut off their ears； burned their farms； and drove them
houseless from the smoking ruins。 Here in the valley old Thor； or； as
they called him； Asathor； had always helped us to vengeance and victory；
and gentle Frey for many years had given us fair and fertile summers。
Therefore the peasants paid little heed to King Olaf's god； and continued
to bring their offerings to Odin and Asathor。 This reached the king's ear；
and he summoned his bishop and five black priests； and set out to visit our
valley。 Having arrived here； he called the peasants together； stood up on
the Ting…stone； told them of the great things that the White Christ had
128
… Page 129…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
done； and bade them choose between him and the old gods。 Some were
scared； and received baptism from the king's priests； others bit their lips
and were silent； others again stood forth and told Saint Olaf that Odin and
Asathor had always served them well； and that they were not going to give
them up for Christ the White； whom they had never seen and of whom
they knew nothing。 The next night the red cock cr