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The sun had set； and the evening bells sounded through the airfrom the tower of the village church； but to her it was not the bells；but the cry of the frogs in the marshes。 Then they ceased； and allaround became still； not a bird could be heard； they were all at rest；even the owl had not left her hiding place； deep silence reigned onthe margin of the wood by the sea…shore。 As Anne Lisbeth walked on shecould hear her own footsteps in the sands； even the waves of the seawere at rest； and all in the deep waters had sunk into silence。There was quiet among the dead and the living in the deep sea。 AnneLisbeth walked on； thinking of nothing at all； as people say； orrather her thoughts wandered； but not away from her； for thought isnever absent from us； it only slumbers。 Many thoughts that have laindormant are roused at the proper time； and begin to stir in the mindand the heart； and seem even to e upon us from above。 It iswritten； that a good deed bears a blessing for its fruit； and it isalso written； that the wages of sin is death。 Much has been said andmuch written which we pass over or know nothing of。 A light ariseswithin us； and then forgotten things make themselves remembered； andthus it was with Anne Lisbeth。 The germ of every vice and every virtuelies in our heart； in yours and in mine； they lie like little grainsof seed； till a ray of sunshine； or the touch of an evil hand； oryou turn the corner to the right or to the left； and the decision ismade。 The little seed is stirred； it swells and shoots up； and poursits sap into your blood； directing your course either for good orevil。 Troublesome thoughts often exist in the mind； fermentingthere； which are not realized by us while the senses are as it wereslumbering； but still they are there。 Anne Lisbeth walked on thus withher senses half asleep； but the thoughts were fermenting within her。
From one Shrove Tuesday to another； much may occur to weigh downthe heart； it is the reckoning of a whole year； much may be forgotten；sins against heaven in word and thought； sins against our neighbor；and against our own conscience。 We are scarcely aware of theirexistence； and Anne Lisbeth did not think of any of her errors。 Shehad mitted no crime against the law of the land； she was anhonorable person； in a good position… that she knew。
She continued her walk along by the margin of the sea。 What was itshe saw lying there？ An old hat； a man's hat。 Now when might that havebeen washed overboard？ She drew nearer； she stopped to look at thehat； 〃Ha！ what was lying yonder？〃 She shuddered； yet it was nothingsave a heap of grass and tangled seaweed flung across a long stone；but it looked like a corpse。 Only tangled grass； and yet she wasfrightened at it。 As she turned to walk away； much came into hermind that she had heard in her childhood： old superstitions ofspectres by the sea…shore； of the ghosts of drowned but unburiedpeople； whose corpses had been washed up on the desolate beach。 Thebody； she knew； could do no harm to any one； but the spirit couldpursue the lonely wanderer； attach itself to him； and demand to becarried to the churchyard； that it might rest in consecrated ground。〃Hold fast！ hold fast！〃 the spectre would cry； and as Anne Lisbethmurmured these words to herself； the whole of her dream was suddenlyrecalled to her memory； when the mother had clung to her； anduttered these words； when； amid the crashing of worlds； her sleeve hadbeen torn； and she had slipped from the grasp of her child； who wantedto hold her up in that terrible hour。 Her child； her own child；which she had never loved； lay now buried in the sea； and might riseup； like a spectre； from the waters； and cry； 〃Hold fast； carry meto consecrated ground！〃
As these thoughts passed through her mind； fear gave speed toher feet； so that she walked faster and faster。 Fear came upon heras if a cold； clammy hand had been laid upon her heart； so that shealmost fainted。 As she looked across the sea； all there grew darker； aheavy mist came rolling onwards； and clung to bush and tree；distorting them into fantastic shapes。 She turned and glanced at themoon； which had risen behind her。 It looked like a pale； raylesssurface； and a deadly weight seemed to hang upon her limbs。 〃Hold；〃thought she； and then she turned round a second time to look at themoon。 A white face appeared quite close to her； with a mist； hanginglike a garment from its shoulders。 〃Stop！ carry me to consecratedearth；〃 sounded in her ears； in strange； hollow tones。 The sound didnot e from frogs or ravens； she saw no sign of such creatures。 〃Agrave！ dig me a grave！〃 was repeated quite loud。 Yes； it was indeedthe spectre of her child。 The child that lay beneath the ocean； andwhose spirit could have no rest until it was carried to thechurchyard； and until a grave had been dug for it in consecratedground。 She would go there at once； and there she would dig。 Sheturned in the direction of the church； and the weight on her heartseemed to grow lighter； and even to vanish altogether； but when sheturned to go home by the shortest way； it returned。 〃Stop！ stop！〃and the words came quite clear； though they were like the croak of afrog； or the wail of a bird。 〃A grave！ dig me a grave！〃
The mist was cold and damp； her hands and face were moist andclammy with horror； a heavy weight again seized her and clung toher； her mind became clear for thoughts that had never before beenthere。
In these northern regions； a beech…wood often buds in a singlenight and appears in the morning sunlight in its full glory ofyouthful green。 So； in a single instant； can the consciousness ofthe sin that has been mitted in thoughts； words； and actions of ourpast life； be unfolded to us。 When once the conscience is awakened； itsprings up in the heart spontaneously； and God awakens theconscience when we least expect it。 Then we can find no excuse forourselves； the deed is there and bears witness against us。 Thethoughts seem to bee words； and to sound far out into the world。 Weare horrified at the thought of what we have carried within us； and atthe consciousness that we have not overe the evil which has itsorigin in thoughtlessness and pride。 The heart conceals withinitself the vices as well as the virtues； and they grow in theshallowest ground。 Anne Lisbeth now experienced in thought what wehave clothed in words。 She was overpowered by them； and sank downand crept along for some distance on the ground。 〃A grave！ dig me agrave！〃 sounded again in her ears； and she would have gladly buriedherself； if in the grave she could have found forgetfulness of heractions。
It was the first hour of her awakening； full of anguish andhorror。 Superstition made her alternately shudder with cold or burnwith the heat of fever。 Many things； of which she had feared even tospeak； came into her mind。 Silently； as the cloud…shadows in themoonshine； a spectral apparition flitted by her； she had heard of itbefore。 Close by her galloped four snorting steeds； with fire flashingfrom their eyes and nostrils。 They dragged a burning coach； and withinit sat the wicked lord of the manor； who had ruled there a hundredyears before。 The legend says that every night； at twelve o'clock；he drove into his castleyard and out again。 He was not as pale as deadmen are； but black as a coal。 He nodded； and pointed to AnneLisbeth； crying out； 〃Hold fast！ hold fast！ and then you may rideagain in a nobleman's carriage； and forget your child。〃
She gathered herself up； and hastened to the churchyard； but blackcrosses and black ravens danced before her eyes； and she could notdistinguish one from the other。 The ravens croaked as the raven haddone which she saw in the daytime； but now she understood what theysaid。 〃I am the raven…mother； I am the raven…mother；〃 each ravencroaked； and Anne Lisbeth felt that the name also applied to her；and she fancied she should be transformed into a black bird； andhave to cry as they cried； if she did not dig the grave。 And she threwherself upon the earth； and with her hands dug a grave in the hardground； so that the blood ran from her fingers。 〃A grave！ dig me agrave！〃 still sounded in her ears； she was fearful that the cock mightcrow； and the first red streak appear in the east； before she hadfinished her work； and then