〃Yes； if you will give me that beautiful ring which you wear onyour finger。〃
〃My betrothal ring？〃 he replied。
〃Yes； just so；〃 said the maiden； as she poured out some more wine；and held it to his lips。 Again he drank； and a living joy streamedthrough every vein。
〃The whole world is mine； why therefore should I grieve？〃thought he。 〃Everything is created for our enjoyment and happiness。The stream of life is a stream of happiness； let us flow on with it tojoy and felicity。〃
Rudy gazed on the young maiden； it was Ante； and yet it was notAnte； still less did he suppose it was the spectral phantom； whomhe had met near Grindelwald。 The maiden up here on the mountain wasfresh as the new fallen snow； blooming as an Alpine rose； and asnimble…footed as a young kid。 Still； she was one of Adam's race；like Rudy。 He flung his arms round the beautiful being； and gazed intoher wonderfully clear eyes；… only for a moment； but in that momentwords cannot express the effect of his gaze。 Was it the spirit of lifeor of death that overpowered him？ Was he rising higher； or sinkinglower and lower into the deep； deadly abyss？ He knew not； but thewalls of ice shone like blue…green glass； innumerable clefts yawnedaround him； and the water…drops tinkled like the chiming of churchbells； and shone clearly as pearls in the light of a pale…blueflame。 The Ice Maiden； for she it was； kissed him； and her kiss sent achill as of ice through his whole frame。 A cry of agony escaped fromhim； he struggled to get free； and tottered from her。 For a moment allwas dark before his eyes； but when he opened them again it waslight； and the Alpine maiden had vanished。 The powers of evil hadplayed their game； the sheltering hut was no more to be seen。 Thewater trickled down the naked sides of the rocks； and snow lay thicklyall around。 Rudy shivered with cold； he was wet through to the skin；and his ring was gone；… the betrothal ring that Babette had given him。His gun lay near him in the snow； he took it up and tried to dischargeit； but it missed fire。 Heavy clouds lay on the mountain clefts；like firm masses of snow。 Upon one of these Vertigo sat； lurking afterhis powerless prey； and from beneath came a sound as if a piece ofrock had fallen from the cleft； and was crushing everything that stoodin its way or opposed its course。
But； at the miller's； Babette sat alone and wept。 Rudy had notbeen to see her for six days。 He who was in the wrong； and who oughtto ask her forgiveness； for did she not love him with her whole heart？
XIII。 AT THE MILL
〃What strange creatures human beings are；〃 said the parlor…catto the kitchen…cat； 〃Babette and Rudy have fallen out with each other。She sits and cries； and he thinks no more about her。〃
〃That does not please me to hear；〃 said the kitchen…cat。
〃Nor me either；〃 replied the parlor…cat； 〃but I do not take itto heart。 Babette may fall in love with the red whiskers； if shelikes； but he has not been here since he tried to get on the roof。〃
The powers of evil carry on their game both around us and withinus。 Rudy knew this； and thought a great deal about it。 What was itthat had happened to him on the mountain？ Was it really a ghostlyapparition； or a fever dream？ Rudy knew nothing of fever； or any otherailment。 But； while he judged Babette； he began to examine his ownconduct。 He had allowed wild thoughts to chase each other in hisheart； and a fierce tornado to break loose。 Could he confess toBabette； indeed； every thought which in the hour of temptation mighthave led him to wrong doing？ He had lost her ring； and that veryloss had won him back to her。 Could she expect him to confess？ He feltas if his heart would break while he thought of it； and while somany memories lingered on his mind。 He saw her again； as she oncestood before him； a laughing； spirited child； many loving words； whichshe had spoken to him out of the fulness of her love； came like aray of sunshine into his heart； and soon it was all sunshine as hethought of Babette。 But she must also confess she was wrong； thatshe should do。
He went to the mill… he went to confession。 It began with akiss； and ended with Rudy being considered the offender。 It was such agreat fault to doubt Babette's truth… it was most abominable of him。Such mistrust； such violence； would cause them both great unhappiness。This certainly was very true； she knew that； and therefore Babettepreached him a little sermon； with which she was herself muchamused； and during the preaching of which she looked quite lovely。 Sheacknowledged； however； that on one point Rudy was right。 Hergodmother's nephew was a fop： she intended to burn the book which hehad given her； so that not the slightest thing should remain to remindher of him。
〃Well； that quarrel is all over；〃 said the kitchen…cat。 〃Rudy ise back； and they are friends again； which they say is thegreatest of all pleasures。〃
〃I heard the rats say one night；〃 said the kitchen…cat； 〃thatthe greatest pleasure in the world was to eat tallow candles and tofeast on rancid bacon。 Which are we to believe； the rats or thelovers？〃
〃Neither of them；〃 said the parlor…cat； 〃it is always the safestplan to believe nothing you hear。〃
The greatest happiness was ing for Rudy and Babette。 Thehappy day； as it is called； that is； their wedding…day； was near athand。 They were not to be married at the church at Bex； nor at themiller's house； Babette's godmother wished the nuptials to besolemnized at Montreux； in the pretty little church in that town。The miller was very anxious that this arrangement should be agreed to。He alone knew what the newly…married couple would receive fromBabette's godmother； and he knew also that it was a wedding presentwell worth a concession。 The day was fixed； and they were to travel asfar as Villeneuve the evening before； to be in time for the steamerwhich sailed in the morning for Montreux； and the godmother'sdaughters were to dress and adorn the bride。
〃Here in this house there ought to be a wedding…day kept；〃 saidthe parlor…cat； 〃or else I would not give a mew for the whole affair。〃
〃There is going to be great feasting；〃 replied the kitchen…cat。〃Ducks and pigeons have been killed； and a whole roebuck hangs onthe wall。 It makes me lick my lips when I think of it。〃
〃To…morrow morning they will begin the journey。〃
Yes； to…morrow！ And this evening； for the last time； Rudy andBabette sat in the miller's house as an engaged couple。 Outside； theAlps glowed in the evening sunset； the evening bells chimed； and thechildren of the sunbeam sang； 〃Whatever happens is best。〃
XIV。 NIGHT VISIONS
The sun had gone down； and the clouds lay low on the valley of theRhone。 The wind blew from the south across the mountains； it was anAfrican wind； a wind which scattered the clouds for a moment； and thensuddenly fell。 The broken clouds hung in fantastic forms upon thewood…covered hills by the rapid Rhone。 They assumed the shapes ofantediluvian animals； of eagles hovering in the air； of frogsleaping over a marsh； and then sunk down upon the rushing stream andappeared to sail upon it； although floating in the air。 An uprootedfir…tree was being carried away by the current； and marking out itspath by eddying circles on the water。 Vertigo