Christminster

“ She did not do it deliberately; she acted upon instinct, with the treachery natural to a woman who is defending her own. It was useless for Minna to resist, and sulk, and be impertinent, and go on denying the truth of her remarks; there was only too much justification for them, and Frau von Kerich had a cruel skill in flicking the raw spot. The largeness of Jean-Christophe's boots, the ugliness of his clothes, his ill-brushed hat, his provincial accent, his ridiculous way of bowing, the vulgarity of his loud-voicedness, nothing was forgotten which might sting Minna's vanity. ”

“ With ironical deliberation--she did not take him altogether seriously--she told him that he had no fortune, that Minna had different tastes. He protested that that made no difference; that he would be rich, famous; that he would win honors, money, all that Minna could desire. Frau von Kerich looked skeptical; she was amused by his self-confidence, and only shook her head by way of saying no. But he stuck to it.
"No, Jean-Christophe," she said firmly, "no. It is not worth arguing. It is impossible. It is not only a question of money. ”

“ I'll tell you what it is, Christlieb. Mother is not far wrong, I suspect. The playthings were all right enough. But we didn't know how to play with them. And that's because we don't know anything about the 'sciences,' as they call them."
"You're quite right, Felix, dear," Christlieb said; "if we knew the 'sciences' all by heart, as those dressed-up cousins of ours do, we should still have your harp-man and your sportsman; and my poor doll would not be at the bottom of the duck-pond. Poor things that we are! Ah! we know nothing about the 'sciences'!" ”

“ Frau von Kerich was moved by it; she said so with the exaggerated words of praise customary among men and women of the world; she was none the less sincere for that, and the very excess of the flattery was sweet coming from such charming lips. Naughty Minna said nothing, and looked astonished at the boy who was so stupid when he talked, but was so eloquent with his fingers. Jean-Christophe felt their sympathy, and grew bold under it. ”

“ But, even as she turned the pages of the history, she was haunted by that look of Olive's. What could have happened to her? Christina felt that she must find out, and for that purpose she sought Minna Nathan. Minna was not popular, and knew far too much arithmetic; but Minna had also a gift for knowing the private affairs of other girls.
"Come here, Minna," said Christina, with dignity. "Now, then, what has Olive been crying about?"
"Don't you know? Her mother's ill, and there's to be an operation to-morrow morning. I believe she'll die; they generally do when there's an operation. ”

“ But Christabel the lamp will trim. She trimm’d the lamp, and made it bright, And left it swinging to and fro, While Geraldine, in wretched plight, Sank down upon the floor below.
‘O weary lady, Geraldine, I pray you, drink this cordial wine! It is a wine of virtuous powers; My mother made it of wild flowers.’
‘And will your mother pity me, Who am a maiden most forlorn?’ Christabel answered—‘Woe is me! She died the hour that I was born. I have heard the grey-hair’d friar tell, How on her death-bed she did say, That she should hear the castle-bell Strike twelve upon my wedding-day. ”

“ With his violin under his arm, and twelve groschens in his pocket, Christlieb descended the steps which led from the inn door to the road. His eye fell upon the manger, which always stood ready for horses passing with travellers. He looked at it much affected, as he thought, Who knows but that may be the very one in which I was found twelve years since! What would have become of me had not Kummas taken me with him? Feelings of gratitude to his foster-father filled his heart. Ah! why had his parents deserted him? How had the poor infant offended them, thus to be driven from them? ”

“ In a more cheering manner the town musician could not have greeted his new pupil, nor in a way which went more to the heart of the solitary child. Full of confidence, and rid of the anxiety which it was natural at such a time to feel, Christlieb approached the tower.
When he had reached it and knocked, a maid-servant made her appearance, whose countenance was not very pleasant looking. "What do you want?" she asked in a sharp voice.
"I wish to see the town musician," said Christlieb diffidently.
"Mr. Dilling," she cried to a person within, "here is a country boy who wants to see you." ”

“ Christlieb cried. The star grew bigger and bigger, and as it did, they could hear a braying of trumpets; and presently they saw that the star was a splendid bird, with wondrous shining plumage, coming soaring down to the wood, flapping its mighty wings, and singing loud and clear. "Ha!" cried Felix, "this is the pheasant prince. He will bite Master Tutor Ink to death. The Stranger Child is saved and so are we! Come, Christlieb ”

“ Just then the little cabin shook.
"Strong wind to-night; it is lucky for thee, Christchild, that thou hast found shelter and lucky for me that the evening which promised to be so dull has been a very merry one.
"Don't be so sad, boy,
If she did treat thee rough,
The world is like a hen-roost,
Has pullets quite enough."
[Pg 19] Crescimir ceased singing, for the Christchild stopped suddenly in his romping, gazing fixedly with his large, wondering eyes upon the floor. ”

“ Minna complained of her loneliness, which led naturally to Jean-Christophe's answer that she was not so lonely as she thought.
"No," she said, shaking her head. "That is only words. Every one lives for himself; no one is interested in you; nobody loves you."
Silence.
"And I?" said Jean-Christophe suddenly, pale with emotion.
Impulsive Minna jumped to her feet, and took his hands.
The door opened. They flung apart. Frau von Kerich entered. Jean-Christophe buried himself in a book, which he held upside down. Minna bent over her work, and pricked her finger with her needle. ”

“ Christlieb had just undressed her big doll, and was going to put its clothes on again, a matter of the greatest moment and interest to her, for which reason she would rather not have gone out just then, and said, in a tone of entreaty, "Hadn't we better stay here and play a little longer, Felix dear?"
"I'll tell you what well do, Christlieb; we'll take the best of our toys out to the woods with us. I'll put on my hanger, and sling the gun over my shoulder; and then, you see, I shall be a regular sportsman. ”

“ There was a light irony in her accents. Frau von Kerich attached not the least importance to this childish love affair; but Jean-Christophe was not conscious of it, and her reproaches, which he took, as he took everything, tragically, went to his heart.
"But, Madam ... but, Madam ..." he stammered, with tears in his eyes, "I have never abused your confidence.... Please do not think that.... I am not a bad man, that I swear!... I love Fräulein Minna. I love her with all my Soul, and I wish to marry her." ”

“ Should death, with his bony hand and ruthless scythe mow me down before you come back as a master in your art, then the villagers, as they walk over my grave, will not scornfully say, 'Here lies a poor fiddler;' but they will add, 'he, at least, did one good action when he----'" Here the old man stopped, not able, from emotion, to proceed; and, ashamed of his tears, he hid his face on Christlieb's shoulder, upon whose head the pet starling had perched itself.
Lifting down the bird, Christlieb said, "Perhaps you would not like to keep the bird, father?"
"No, my son," answered the latter ”

“ In short, she gave him all the little attentions and the quasi-maternal care which come to every good woman instinctively for a child who is intrusted to her, or trusts himself to her, without her having any deep feeling for it. But Jean-Christophe thought that all the tenderness was given to him personally, and he was filled with gratitude; he would break out into little awkward, passionate speeches, which seemed a little ridiculous to Frau von Kerich, though they did not fail to give her pleasure.
With Minna his relation was very different. ”

“ But Christy told something of his experience on board of the Bellevite which had prepared him for his duties, and his case was rather exceptional.
"You have physique enough for a man of twenty-five," added the guest. "And you have been more fortunate than I have."
"And I have been as unfortunate as you are, for I have seen the inside of a Confederate prison, though I concluded not to remain there for any length of time," added Christy, laughing.
"You are a fortunate young man, and I do not belong to that class," said Captain Dinsmore, shaking his head. ”

“ Nothingness cannot be described. Deprived of the only boon that made living worth while for him--his letters to Minna--Jean-Christophe now only lived mechanically, and the only thing which interested him at all was when in the evening, as he was going to bed, he ticked off on the calendar, like a schoolboy, one of the interminable days which lay between himself and Minna's return. ”

“ It was evident to Crescimir from their dress that they were German emigrants.
With the help of some of the rancheros the bodies were carried to the house.
"They may be the parents of the little one," said Jovita's mother. "We will bring him here and see if he recognizes them; it seems cruel but it is the only way." [Pg 32]
They brought the Christchild to the room where the bodies lay. When the little fellow saw them, he clung to Crescimir and uttering a moaning sound, yet seeming half like a laugh, he hid his eyes and would not look again. ”

“ Christina made her Glasgow curtsey to the laird, and went on again up the road for Hermiston and Cauldstaneslap, walking fast, breathing hurriedly with a heightened colour, and in this strange frame of mind, that when she was alone she seemed in high happiness, and when any one addressed her she resented it like a contradiction. ”

“ At the same time I believe that you always had a calmer mind and more balanced temperament than Minna, and therefore in your youth suffered less from such a separation."
"Yes, that's true," said Hertz,—"for Minna, it will be more difficult.... But we must all struggle, each one with his burden, and it is well for everybody that it should be so."
"Anyhow it is not in those kind of struggles that one succumbs," said Mrs. Hertz cheerfully. "I do not think one need even fear a wound, and the hardships one is sure to get over. ”

“ Christlieb followed his example; and there the children lay, depressed and wretched, gazing at the ground.
"Ah!" said Christlieb; "if we only had our nice playthings."
"Bosh!" growled Felix; "what the better should we be? We should only smash them up and destroy them again. ”

“ Minna had told Mrs. Hertz everything.
"You have acted rightly," said the old lady to me the following day. "And poor Minna! She anyhow thinks she has acted for the best. But it pains me dreadfully, and not least for her sake."
I heard from her that Stephensen was going to Denmark in a few days in order to prepare everything, and that Minna was soon to follow. With regard to myself—I only thought of getting away. My uncle had no objection to my immediate arrival, and a week after old Hertz's death I was ready to start. ”

“ While he is creating he escapes altogether from the slavery of desire and sorrow; he becomes then master in his turn; and all that gave him joy or suffering seems then to him to be only the fine play of his will. Such moments are too short; for when they are done he finds about him, more heavy than ever, the chains of reality.
While Jean-Christophe was busy with his work he hardly had time to think of his parting from Minna; he was living with her. Minna was no longer in Minna; she was in himself. ”

“ When the blinding reflection came into the room, or the thunder roared so furiously that the house shook and the window-panes rattled, she gave a start, and sometimes even a little scream, though she evidently tried her utmost to control herself. Mrs. Hertz got up from the sofa and calmed her with motherly kindness, and Minna smiled as courageously as she could, though with the fear of the next shock always written on her pale face. Old Hertz looked sympathetically up from his newspaper, which the constant flashes nearly prevented him from reading. ”

“ Do you know that I lost my doll—the one you gave me?... Oh, Kersti dear, why are you so sorry?
[He throws his arms about her neck.
KERSTI. [Taking him on her lap and kissing his shoes] Oh, Lit-Mats, Lit-Mats!
BRITA. [To the soldiers] Is that allowed?
The soldiers stand at attention, but make no reply.
BRITA. [Taking LIT-MATS away from KERSTI] Come on now!
KERSTI. [To LIT-MATS] Go with your sister, Lit-Mats! And you had better keep away from me!
[She begins to read in a low voice out of the hymn-book.
BRITA. [To KERSTI] Shall I tell him?
KERSTI. For God's sake, don't tell the child! ”

“ Everybody wondered where the little Christchild had gone, and search was made, but, of course, unsuccessfully; yet Crescimir and Jovita said nothing.
Thus, in time, people forgot about the tiny elf and now there are few who have even heard of Crescimir's guest.
The pretty cottage may to-day be seen on the knoll near the wonderful, [Pg 44] wide-spreading laurel tree and every Christmas Eve upon the chimney piece of its open hearted hearth may be seen a dark, glossy branch of hemlock with a bunch of toyone. ”

“ MATS. Good night, then, Kersti dear, and good night, baby! [He goes out.
KERSTI. Good night, Mats.
KERSTI loosens the empty cradle from its fastenings and drops it into the tarn, from the waters of which the CHILD IN WHITE rises to threaten her with raised forefinger. At the sight of him KERSTI shrinks back.
NECK. [Appears in the same spot as before, but now bareheaded and carrying a golden harp, on which he accompanies himself; he has a threatening look as he sings; see musical appendix, Melody No. 20]
"Stilled are the waters, dark grows the sky:
Dark grows the sky. ”