United States or Lesotho ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Suspense ran through his body like an icy shudder. Outside stood Hanne's mother, shivering in the morning cold. "Pelle," she whispered anxiously, "it's so near now would you run and fetch Madam Blom from Market Street? I can't leave Hanne. And I ought to be wishing you happiness, too." The errand was not precisely convenient, nevertheless, he ran oft.
They were tired after the day's work and they didn't feel inclined to dress themselves to go out. One could see how they enjoyed feeling that they were at home. "You should give Hanne and her mother the tickets," said Marie, "they never go out." Pelle thought the matter over while he was dressing. Well, why not? After all, it was stupid to rake up an old story. Hanne did not want to go with him.
"And the fine lace on the chemise you can always let that peep out of the dress a little it looks so pretty like that. Now you really look like a summer girl!" "I'll just run down and show it to Madam Olsen," said Hanne, pressing her hand to her glowing cheeks. "Yes, do poor folks' joys must have their due," replied the old woman, turning over to the wall.
Hanne consented to have her fortune told; it cost five and twenty ore, but she was rewarded by an unexpected suitor who was coming across the sea with lots of money. Her eyes shone. "I could have done it much better than that!" said Madam Johnsen. "No, mother, for you never foretell me anything but misfortune," replied Hanne, laughing.
"She's always bawling away," said Hanne; "those who've got real children haven't got strength left to sing. But her brat doesn't need any food; and that makes a lot of difference when one is poor." "To-day she was washing and ironing the child's things to make her fine for to-morrow, when her father comes. He is a lieutenant," said Hanne. "Is he coming to-morrow, then?" asked Pelle naively.
He can only gaze at Hanne, until Cerberus takes her in his giant's arms and bears her out. She is so light in her summer finery she weighs nothing at all! "Mazurka!" he bellows, as he returns, and goes commandingly along the ranks of dancers. At the end of January, Pelle obtained a place as laborer in the "Denmark" machine works.
In a few words Pelle told Morten the child's previous history Madam Johnsen and her husband's vain fight to get on, his horrible death in the sewer, how Hanne had grown up as the beautiful princess of the "Ark" Hanne who meant to have happiness, and had instead this poor child! "You've never told me anything about Hanne," said Morten, looking at him. "No," said Pelle slowly.
'Tis to see Master von Sturm, not to court pretty Mistress Ysolinde, that I asked you to visit the lawyer's house by the Weiss Thor." But I was not sorry to be able to proclaim my destination as loud as I dared without causing suspicion. "Hanne," I cried down the turret stairs, "I pray you bring me the silken shoes with the ribbon bows of silk.
The men stand waiting for her; when one releases her ten spring forward, and this evening Hanne wants to dance with them all. Every one of them should be permitted to warm himself by her! Her eyes are like sparks in the darkness; her silent demeanor excites them; they swing her round more and more wildly. Those who cannot dance with her must slake the fire within them with drink.
And I guessed so well the reason of her fear that I used to cry to her: "Come out, good Hanne; the Red Axe is gone." Then would she run, pattering like a scared rabbit over the uneven floor, to the window, and watch my father stalking, grim and tall, across the open spaces of the yard towards the Judgment Hall of Duke Casimir, the men-at-arms avoiding him with deft reverence.
Word Of The Day