t him to Interlachen。 Babettebecame quite silent after hearing all this； it was almost too much；and it troubled her。
And while they thus wandered on； the sun sunk behind the loftymountains。 The Jungfrau stood out in brightness and splendor； as aback…ground to the green woods of the surrounding hills。 Every onestood still to look at the beautiful sight； Rudy and Babette amongthem。
〃Nothing can be more beautiful than this；〃 said Babette。
〃Nothing！〃 replied Rudy； looking at Babette。
〃To…morrow I must return home；〃 remarked Rudy a few minutesafterwards。
〃e and visit us at Bex；〃 whispered Babette； 〃my father willbe pleased to see you。〃
V。 ON THE WAY HOME
Oh； what a number of things Rudy had to carry over themountains； when he set out to return home！ He had three silver cups；two handsome pistols； and a silver coffee…pot。 This latter would beuseful when he began housekeeping。 But all these were not the heaviestweight he had to bear； something mightier and more important hecarried with him in his heart； over the high mountains； as hejourneyed homeward。
The weather was dismally dark； and inclined to rain； the cloudshung low； like a mourning veil on the tops of the mountains； andshrouded their glittering peaks。 In the woods could be heard the soundof the axe and the heavy fall of the trunks of the trees； as theyrolled down the slopes of the mountains。 When seen from the heights；the trunks of these trees looked like slender stems； but on a nearerinspection they were found to be large and strong enough for the mastsof a ship。 The river murmured monotonously； the wind whistled； and theclouds sailed along hurriedly。
Suddenly there appeared； close by Rudy's side； a young maiden；he had not noticed her till she came quite near to him。 She was alsogoing to ascend the mountain。 The maiden's eyes shone with anunearthly power； which obliged you to look into them； they werestrange eyes；… clear； deep； and unfathomable。
〃Hast thou a lover？〃 asked Rudy； all his thoughts were naturallyon love just then。
〃I have none；〃 answered the maiden； with a laugh； it was as if shehad not spoken the truth。
〃Do not let us go such a long way round；〃 said she。 〃We mustkeep to the left； it is much shorter。〃
〃Ah； yes；〃 he replied； 〃and fall into some crevasse。 Do youpretend to be a guide； and not know the road better than that？〃
〃I know every step of the way；〃 said she； 〃and my thoughts arecollected； while yours are down in the valley yonder。 We shouldthink of the Ice Maiden while we are up here； men say she is notkind to their race。〃
〃I fear her not；〃 said Rudy。 〃She could not keep me when I was achild； I will not give myself up to her now I am a man。〃
Darkness came on； the rain fell； and then it began to snow； andthe whiteness dazzled the eyes。
〃Give me your hand；〃 said the maiden； 〃I will help you tomount。〃 And he felt the touch of her icy fingers。
〃You help me；〃 cried Rudy； 〃I do not yet require a woman to helpme to climb。〃 And he stepped quickly forwards away from her。
The drifting snow…shower fell like a veil between them； the windwhistled； and behind him he could hear the maiden laughing andsinging； and the sound was most strange to hear。
〃It certainly must be a spectre or a servant of the Ice Maiden；〃thought Rudy； who had heard such things talked about when he was alittle boy； and had stayed all night on the mountain with the guides。
The snow fell thicker than ever； the clouds lay beneath him； helooked back； there was no one to be seen； but he heard sounds ofmocking laughter； which were not those of a human voice。
When Rudy at length reached the highest part of the mountain；where the path led down to the valley of the Rhone； the snow hadceased； and in the clear heavens he saw two bright stars twinkling。They reminded him of Babette and of himself； and of his futurehappiness； and his heart glowed at the thought。
VI。 THE VISIT TO THE MILL
〃What beautiful things you have brought home！〃 said his oldfoster…mother； and her strange…looking eagle…eyes sparkled； whileshe wriggled and twisted her skinny neck more quickly and strangelythan ever。 〃You have brought good luck with you； Rudy。 I must give youa kiss； my dear boy。〃
Rudy allowed himself to be kissed； but it could be seen by hiscountenance that he only endured the infliction as a homely duty。
〃How handsome you are； Rudy！〃 said the old woman。
〃Don't flatter；〃 said Rudy； with a laugh； but still he waspleased。
〃I must say once more；〃 said the old woman； 〃that you are verylucky。〃
〃Well； in that I believe you are right；〃 said he； as he thought ofBabette。 Never had he felt such a longing for that deep valley as henow had。 〃They must have returned home by this time；〃 said he tohimself； 〃it is already two days over the time which they fixedupon。 I must go to Bex。〃
So Rudy set out to go to Bex； and when he arrived there； hefound the miller and his daughter at home。 They received him kindly；and brought him many greetings from their friends at Interlachen。Babette did not say much。 She seemed to have bee quite silent；but her eyes spoke； and that was quite enough for Rudy。 The miller hadgenerally a great deal to talk about； and seemed to expect thatevery one should listen to his jokes； and laugh at them； for was nothe the rich miller？ But now he was more inclined to hear Rudy'sadventures while hunting and travelling； and to listen to hisdescriptions of the difficulties the chamois…hunter has to overe onthe mountain…tops； or of the dangerous snow…drifts which the windand weather cause to cling to the edges of the rocks； or to lie in theform of a frail bridge over the abyss beneath。 The eyes of the braveRudy sparkled as he described the life of a hunter； or spoke of thecunning of the chamois and their wonderful leaps； also of the powerfulfohn and the rolling avalanche。 He noticed that the more he described；the more interested the miller became； especially when he spoke of thefierce vulture and of the royal eagle。 Not far from Bex； in the cantonValais； was an eagle's nest； more curiously built under a high；over…hanging rock。 In this nest was a young eagle； but who wouldventure to take it？ A young Englishman had offered Rudy a wholehandful of gold； if he would bring him the young eagle alive。
〃There is a limit to everything；〃 was Rudy's reply。 〃The eaglecould not be taken； it would be folly to attempt it。〃
The wine was passed round freely； and the conversation kept uppleasantly； but the evening seemed too short for Rudy； although it wasmidnight when he left the miller's house； after this his first visit。
While the lights in the windows of the miller's house stilltwinkled through the green foliage； out through the open skylight camethe parlor…cat on to the roof； and along the water…pipe walked thekitchen…cat to meet her。
〃What is the news at the mill？〃 asked the parlor…cat。 〃Here in thehouse there is secret love…making going on； which the father knowsnothing about。 Rudy and Babette have been treading on each other'spaws； under the table； all the evening。 They trod on my tail twice；but I did not mew； that would have attracted notice。〃
〃Well； I should have mewed；〃 said the kitchen…cat。
〃What might suit the kitchen would not suit