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！
〃She has been accustomed to that；〃 her mother said。 〃She is abeauty； and they are always easily tired。 She does sleep ratherlate； but that makes her eyes so clear。〃
What power seemed to lie in the depths of those dark eyes！ Theyoung man felt the truth of the proverb； 〃Still waters run deep：〃and his heart had sunk into their depths。 He often talked of hisadventures； and the mamma was as simple and eager in her questionsas on the first evening they met。 It was a pleasure to hear Alfreddescribe anything。 He showed them colored plates of Naples； andspoke of excursions to Mount Vesuvius； and the eruptions of firefrom it。 The naval officer's widow had never heard of them before。
〃Good heavens！〃 she exclaimed。 〃So that is a burning mountain； butis it not very dangerous to the people who live near it？〃
〃Whole cities have been destroyed；〃 he replied； 〃for instance；Herculaneum and Pompeii。〃
〃Oh； the poor people！ And you saw all that with your own eyes？〃
〃No； I did not see any of the eruptions which are represented inthose pictures； but I will show you a sketch of my own； whichrepresents an eruption I once saw。〃
He placed a pencil sketch on the table； and mamma； who had beenover…powered with the appearance of the colored plates； threw a glanceat the pale drawing and cried in astonishment； 〃What； did you see itthrow up white fire？〃
For a moment； Alfred's respect for Kaela's mamma underwent asudden shock； and lessened considerably； but； dazzled by the lightwhich surrounded Kaela； he soon found it quite natural that the oldlady should have no eye for color。 After all； it was of very littleconsequence； for Kaela's mamma had the best of all possessions；namely； Kaela herself。
Alfred and Kaela were betrothed； which was a very naturalresult； and the betrothal was announced in the newspaper of the littletown。 Mama purchased thirty copies of the paper； that she might cutout the paragraph and send it to friends and acquaintances。 Thebetrothed pair were very happy； and the mother was happy too。 She saidit seemed like connecting herself with Thorwalsden。
〃You are a true successor of Thorwalsden；〃 she said to Alfred； andit seemed to him as if； in this instance； mamma had said a cleverthing。 Kaela was silent； but her eyes shone； her lips smiled； everymovement was graceful；… in fact； she was beautiful； that cannot berepeated too often。 Alfred decided to take a bust of Kaela as wellas of her mother。 They sat to him accordingly； and saw how hemoulded and formed the soft clay with his fingers。
〃I suppose it is only on our account that you perform thismon…place work yourself； instead of leaving it to your servant todo all that sticking together。〃
〃It is really necessary that I should mould the clay myself；〃 hereplied。
〃Ah； yes； you are always so polite；〃 said mamma； with a smile； andKaela silently pressed his hand； all soiled as it was with the clay。
Then he unfolded to them both the beauties of Nature； in all herworks； he pointed out to them how； in the scale of creation； inanimatematter was inferior to animate nature； the plant above the mineral；the animal above the plant； and man above them all。 He strove toshow them how the beauty of the mind could be displayed in the outwardform； and that it was the sculptor's task to seize upon that beauty ofexpression； and produce it in his works。 Kaela stood silent； butnodded in approbation of what he said； while mamma…in…law made thefollowing confession：…
〃It is difficult to follow you； but I go hobbling along afteryou with my thoughts； though what you say makes my head whirl roundand round。 Still I contrive to lay hold on some of it。〃
Kaela's beauty had a firm hold on Alfred； it filled his soul；and held a mastery over him。 Beauty beamed from Kaela's every feature；glittered in her eyes； lurked in the corners of her mouth； andpervaded every movement of her agile fingers。 Alfred； the sculptor；saw this。 He spoke only to her； thought only of her； and the twobecame one； and so it may be said she spoke much； for he was alwaystalking to her； and he and she were one。 Such was the betrothal； andthen came the wedding； with bride's…maids and wedding presents； allduly mentioned in the wedding speech。 Mamma…in…law had set upThorwalsden's bust at the end of the table； attired in adressing…gown； it was her fancy that he should be a guest。 Songswere sung； and cheers given； for it was a gay wedding； and they were ahandsome pair。 〃Pygmalion loved his Galatea；〃 said one of the songs。
〃Ah； that is some of your mythologies；〃 said mamma…in…law。
Next day the youthful pair started for Copenhagen； where they wereto live； mamma…in…law acpanied them； to attend to the 〃coarsework；〃 as she always called the domestic arrangements。 Kaela lookedlike a doll in a doll's house； for everything was bright and new；and so fine。 There they sat； all three； and as for Alfred； a proverbmay describe his position… he looked like a swan amongst the geese。The magic of form had enchanted him； he had looked at the casketwithout caring to inquire what it contained； and that omission oftenbrings the greatest unhappiness into married life。 The casket may beinjured； the gilding may fall off； and then the purchaser regretshis bargain。
In a large party it is very disagreeable to find a button givingway； with no studs at hand to fall back upon； but it is worse still ina large pany to be conscious that your wife and mother…in…law aretalking nonsense； and that you cannot depend upon yourself toproduce a little ready wit to carry off the stupidity of the wholeaffair。
The young married pair often sat together hand in hand； he wouldtalk； but she could only now and then let fall a word in the samemelodious voice； the same bell…like tones。 It was a mental relief whenSophy； one of her friends； came to pay them a visit。 Sophy was not；pretty。 She was； however； quite free from any physical deformity；although Kaela used to say she was a little crooked； but no eye；save an intimate acquaintance； would have noticed it。 She was a verysensible girl； yet it never occurred to her that she might be adangerous person in such a house。 Her appearance created a newatmosphere in the doll's house； and air was really required； theyall owned that。 They felt the want of a change of air； andconsequently the young couple and their mother travelled to Italy。
〃Thank heaven we are at home again within our own four walls；〃said mamma…in…law and daughter both； on their return after a year'sabsence。
〃There is no real pleasure in travelling；〃 said mamma； 〃to tellthe truth； it's very wearisome； I beg pardon for saying so。 I was soonvery tired of it； although I had my children with me； and； besides；it's very expensive work travelling； very expensive。 And all thosegalleries one is expected to see； and the quantity of things you areobliged to run after！ It must be done； for very shame； you are sure tobe asked when you e back if you have seen everything； and will mostlikely be told that you've omitted to see what was best worth seeingof all。 I got tired at last of those endless Madonnas； I began tothink I was turning into a Madonna myself。〃
〃And then the living； mamma；〃 said Kaela。
〃Yes； indeed；〃 she replied； 〃no such a thing as a respectable meatsoup… their cookery is miserable stuff。〃
The journey had also tired Kaela； but she was always fatigued；that was the worst of it。 So they sent for Sophy； and she was takeninto the house to reside with them； and her presence there was a greatadvantage。 Mamma…in…law acknowledged that Sophy was not only aclever housewife； but well…informed and acplished； though thatcould hardly be expected in a person of her limited means。 She wasalso a generous…hearted； faithful girl； she showed that thoroughlywhile Kaela lay sick； fading away。 When the casket is everything；the casket should be strong； or else all is over。 And all was overwith the casket； for Kaela died。
〃She was beautiful；〃 said her mother； 〃she was quite differentfrom the beauties they call 'antiques；' for they are so damaged。 Abeauty ought to be perfect； and Kaela was a perfect beauty。〃
Alfred wept； and mamma wept； and they both wore mourning。 Theblack dress suited mamma very well； and she wore mourning the longest。She had also to experience another