iss… andbefore him lay Interlachen。
〃It is really a splendid town； like none other that I have everseen；〃 said Rudy to himself。 It was indeed a Swiss town in its holidaydress。 Not like the many other towns； crowded with heavy stone houses；stiff and foreign looking。 No； here it seemed as if the woodenhouses on the hills had run into the valley； and placed themselvesin rows and ranks by the side of the clear river； which rushes like anarrow in its course。 The streets were rather irregular； it is true；but still this added to their picturesque appearance。 There was onestreet which Rudy thought the prettiest of them all； it had been builtsince he had visited the town when a little boy。 It seemed to him asif all the neatest and most curiously carved toy houses which hisgrandfather once kept in the large cupboard at home； had beenbrought out and placed in this spot； and that they had increased insize since then； as the old chestnut trees had done。 The houses werecalled hotels； the woodwork on the windows and balconies was curiouslycarved。 The roofs were gayly painted； and before each house was aflower garden； which separated it from the macadamized high…road。These houses all stood on the same side of the road； so that thefresh； green meadows； in which were cows grazing； with bells ontheir necks； were not hidden。 The sound of these bells is oftenheard amidst Alpine scenery。 These meadows were encircled by loftyhills； which receded a little in the centre； so that the mostbeautifully formed of Swiss mountains… the snow…crowned Jungfrau…could be distinctly seen glittering in the distance。 A number ofelegantly dressed gentlemen and ladies from foreign lands； andcrowds of country people from the neighboring cantons； wereassembled in the town。 Each marksman wore the number of hits he hadmade twisted in a garland round his hat。 Here were music and singingof all descriptions： hand…organs； trumpets； shouting； and noise。 Thehouses and bridges were adorned with verses and inscriptions。 Flagsand banners were waving。 Shot after shot was fired； which was the bestmusic to Rudy's ears。 And amidst all this excitement he quite forgotBabette； on whose account only he had e。 The shooters werethronging round the target； and Rudy was soon amongst them。 But whenhe took his turn to fire； he proved himself the best shot； for healways struck the bull's…eye。
〃Who may that young stranger be？〃 was the inquiry on all sides。〃He speaks French as it is spoken in the Swiss cantons。〃
〃And makes himself understood very well when he speaks German；〃said some。
〃He lived here； when a child； with his grandfather； in a houseon the road to Grindelwald；〃 remarked one of the sportsmen。
And full of life was this young stranger； his eyes sparkled； hisglance was steady； and his arm sure； therefore he always hit the mark。Good fortune gives courage； and Rudy was always courageous。 He soonhad a circle of friends gathered round him。 Every one noticed him； anddid him homage。 Babette had quite vanished from his thoughts； whenhe was struck on the shoulder by a heavy hand； and a deep voice saidto him in French； 〃You are from the canton Valais。〃
Rudy turned round； and beheld a man with a ruddy； pleasant face；and a stout figure。 It was the rich miller from Bex。 His broad； portlyperson； hid the slender； lovely Babette； but she came forward andglanced at him with her bright； dark eyes。 The rich miller was verymuch flattered at the thought that the young man； who was acknowledgedto be the best shot； and was so praised by every one； should be fromhis own canton。 Now was Rudy really fortunate： he had travelled allthis way to this place； and those he had forgotten were now e toseek him。 When country people go far from home； they often meet withthose they know； and improve their acquaintance。 Rudy； by hisshooting； had gained the first place in the shooting…match； just asthe miller at home at Bex stood first； because of his money and hismill。 So the two men shook hands； which they had never done before。Babette； too； held out her hand to Rudy frankly； and he pressed itin his； and looked at her so earnestly； that she blushed deeply。 Themiller talked of the long journey they had travelled； and of themany towns they had seen。 It was his opinion that he had really madeas great a journey as if he had travelled in a steamship； a railwaycarriage； or a post…chaise。
〃I came by a much shorter way；〃 said Rudy； 〃I came over themountains。 There is no road so high that a man may not venture uponit。〃
〃Ah； yes； and break your neck；〃 said the miller； 〃and you looklike one who will break his neck some day； you are so daring。〃
〃Oh； nothing ever happens to a man if he has confidence inhimself；〃 replied Rudy。
The miller's relations at Interlachen； with whom the miller andBabette were staying； invited Rudy to visit them； when they found hecame from the same canton as the miller。 It was a most pleasant visit。Good fortune seemed to follow him； as it does those who think andact for themselves； and who remember the proverb； 〃Nuts are given tous； but they are not cracked for us。〃 And Rudy was treated by themiller's relations almost like one of the family； and glasses ofwine were poured out to drink to the welfare of the best shooter。Babette clinked glasses with Rudy； and he returned thanks for thetoast。 In the evening they all took a delightful walk under thewalnut…trees； in front of the stately hotels； there were so manypeople； and such crowding； that Rudy was obliged to offer his arm toBabette。 Then he told her how happy it made him to meet people fromthe canton Vaud；… for Vaud and Valais were neighboring cantons。 Hespoke of this pleasure so heartily that Babette could not resistgiving his arm a slight squeeze； and so they walked on together； andtalked and chatted like old acquaintances。 Rudy felt inclined to laughsometimes at the absurd dress and walk of the foreign ladies； butBabette did not wish to make fun of them； for she knew there must besome good； excellent people amongst them； she； herself； had agodmother； who was a high…born English lady。 Eighteen years before；when Babette was christened； this lady was staying at Bex； and shestood godmother for her； and gave her the valuable brooch she now worein her bosom。
Her godmother had twice written to her； and this year she wasexpected to visit Interlachen with her two daughters； 〃but they areold…maids；〃 added Babette； who was only eighteen： 〃they are nearlythirty。〃 Her sweet little mouth was never still a moment； and all thatshe said sounded in Rudy's ears as matters of the greatest importance；and at last he told her what he was longing to tell。 How often hehad been at Bex； how well he knew the mill； and how often he hadseen Babette； when most likely she had not noticed him； and lastly；that full of many thoughts which he could not tell her； he had been tothe mill on the evening when she and her father has started on theirlong journey； but not too far for him to find a way to overtakethem。 He told her all this； and a great deal more； he told her howmuch he could endure for her； and that it was to see her； and notthe shooting…match； which had brought him to Interlachen。 Babettebecame quite silent after hearing all this； it was almost too much；and