安徒生童话-第229章
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him； but knew the words of thesongs； and that of course is something。 The people of Kjoge； andeven the rich wife of the man who kept the fancy shop； would stand andlisten while Joanna was singing； and say； 〃She has really a very sweetvoice。〃
Those were happy days； but they could not last forever。 Theneighbors were separated； the mother of the little girl was dead；and her father had thoughts of marrying again and of residing in thecapital； where he had been promised a very lucrative appointment asmessenger。 The neighbors parted with tears； the children wept sadly；but their parents promised that they should write to each other atleast once a year。
After this； Knud was bound apprentice to a shoemaker； he wasgrowing a great boy； and could not be allowed to run wild anylonger。 Besides； he was going to be confirmed。 Ah； how happy hewould have been on that festal day in Copenhagen with little Joanna；but he still remained at Kjoge； and had never seen the great city；though the town is not five miles from it。 But far across the bay；when the sky was clear； the towers of Copenhagen could be seen； and onthe day of his confirmation he saw distinctly the golden cross onthe principal church glittering in the sun。 How often his thoughtswere with Joanna！ but did she think of him？ Yes。 About Christmascame a letter from her father to Knud's parents； which stated thatthey were going on very well in Copenhagen； and mentioningparticularly that Joanna's beautiful voice was likely to bring her abrilliant fortune in the future。 She was engaged to sing at a concert；and she had already earned money by singing； out of which she sent herdear neighbors at Kjoge a whole dollar； for them to make merry onChristmas eve； and they were to drink her health。 She had herselfadded this in a postscript； and in the same postscript she wrote；〃Kind regards to Knud。〃
The good neighbors wept； although the news was so pleasant； butthey wept tears of joy。 Knud's thoughts had been daily with Joanna；and now he knew that she also had thought of him； and the nearer thetime came for his apprenticeship to end； the clearer did it appearto him that he loved Joanna； and that she must be his wife； and asmile came on his lips at the thought； and at one time he drew thethread so fast as he worked； and pressed his foot so hard againstthe knee strap； that he ran the awl into his finger； but what did hecare for that？ He was determined not to play the dumb lover as boththe gingerbread cakes had done； the story was a good lesson to him。
At length he bee a journeyman； and then； for the first time； heprepared for a journey to Copenhagen； with his knapsack packed andready。 A master was expecting him there； and he thought of Joanna； andhow glad she would be to see him。 She was now seventeen； and henieen years old。 He wanted to buy a gold ring for her in Kjoge； butthen he recollected how far more beautiful such things would be inCopenhagen。 So he took leave of his parents； and on a rainy day；late in the autumn； wandered forth on foot from the town of his birth。The leaves were falling from the trees； and； by the time he arrived athis new master's in the great metropolis； he was wet through。 On thefollowing Sunday he intended to pay his first visit to Joanna'sfather。 When the day came； the new journeyman's clothes were broughtout； and a new hat； which he had brought in Kjoge。 The hat becamehim very well； for hitherto he had only worn a cap。 He found the housethat he sought easily； but had to mount so many stairs that hebecame quite giddy； it surprised him to find how people lived over oneanother in this dreadful town。
On entering a room in which everything denoted prosperity；Joanna's father received him very kindly。 The new wife was astranger to him； but she shook hands with him； and offered him coffee。
〃Joanna will be very glad to see you；〃 said her father。 〃Youhave grown quite a nice young man； you shall see her presently； she isa good child； and is the joy of my heart； and； please God； she willcontinue to be so； she has her own room now； and pays us rent for it。〃And the father knocked quite politely at a door； as if he were astranger； and then they both went in。 How pretty everything was inthat room！ a more beautiful apartment could not be found in thewhole town of Kjoge； the queen herself could scarcely be betteracmodated。 There were carpets； and rugs； and window curtainshanging to the ground。 Pictures and flowers were scattered about。There was a velvet chair； and a looking…glass against the wall； intowhich a person might be in danger of stepping； for it was as largeas a door。 All this Knud saw at a glance； and yet； in truth； he sawnothing but Joanna。 She was quite grown up； and very different fromwhat Knud had fancied her； and a great deal more beautiful。 In allKjoge there was not a girl like her； and how graceful she looked；although her glance at first was odd； and not familiar； but for amoment only； then she rushed towards him as if she would have kissedhim； she did not； however； although she was very near it。 Yes； shereally was joyful at seeing the friend of her childhood once more； andthe tears even stood in her eyes。 Then she asked so many questionsabout Knud's parents； and everything； even to the elder…tree and thewillow； which she called 〃elder…mother and willow…father；〃 as ifthey had been human beings； and so； indeed； they might be； quite asmuch as the gingerbread cakes。 Then she talked about them； and thestory of their silent love； and how they lay on the counter togetherand split in two； and then she laughed heartily； but the bloodrushed into Knud's cheeks； and his heart beat quickly。 Joanna wasnot proud at all； he noticed that through her he was invited by herparents to remain the whole evening with them； and she poured outthe tea and gave him a cup herself； and afterwards she took a book andread aloud to them； and it seemed to Knud as if the story was allabout himself and his love； for it agreed so well with his ownthoughts。 And then she sang a simple song； which； through her singing；became a true story； and as if she poured forth the feelings of herown heart。
〃Oh；〃 he thought； 〃she knows I am fond of her。〃 The tears he couldnot restrain rolled down his cheeks； and he was unable to utter asingle word； it seemed as if he had been struck dumb。
When he left； she pressed his hand； and said； 〃You have a kindheart； Knud： remain always as you are now。〃 What an evening ofhappiness this had been； to sleep after it was impossible； and Knuddid not sleep。
At parting； Joanna's father had said； 〃Now； you won't quite forgetus； you must not let the whole winter go by without paying usanother visit；〃 so that Knud felt himself free to go again thefollowing Sunday evening； and so he did。 But every evening afterworking hours… and they worked by candle…light then… he walked outinto the town； and through the street in which Joanna lived； to lookup at her window。 It was almost always lighted up； and one eveninghe saw the shadow of her face quite plainly on the window blind；that was a glorious evening for him。 His master's wife did not likehis always going out in the evening； idling； wasting time； as shecalled it； and she shook her head。
But his master only smiled； and said； 〃He is a young man； my dear；you know。〃
〃On Sunday I shall see her；〃 said Knud to himself； 〃and I willtell her that I love her with my whole heart and soul； and that shemust be my little wife。 I know I am now only a poor journeymanshoemaker； but I will work and strive； and bee a master in time。Yes； I will speak to her； nothing es from silent love。 I learntthat from the gingerbread…cake story。〃
Sunday came； but when Knud arrived； they were all unfortunatelyinvited out to spend the evening； and were obliged to tell him so。
Joanna pressed his hand； and said； 〃Have you ever been to thetheatre？ you must go once； I sing there on Wednesday； and if youhave time on that day； I will send you a ticket； my father knows whereyour master lives。〃 How kind this was of her！ And on Wednesday；about noon； Knud received a sealed packet with no address； but theticket was inside； and in the evening Knud went； for the first time inhis life； to a theatre。 And what did he see？ He saw Joanna； and howbeautiful and charming she look
