the soul of nicholas snyders-第3节

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had　always　irritated　him。　　It　irritated　him　now；　but　the　irritation
was　against　himself。

〃You　were　sleeping　so　soundly　when　I　came　in　last　night〃　Christina
commenced。

〃And　you　were　afraid　to　wake　me；〃　Nicholas　interrupted　her。　　〃You
thought　the　old　curmudgeon　would　be　cross。　　Listen；　Christina。　　You
paid　off　yesterday　the　last　debt　your　father　owed。　　It　was　to　an　old
sailorI　had　not　been　able　to　find　him　before。　　Not　a　cent　more　do
you　owe；　and　there　remains　to　you；　out　of　your　wages；　a　hundred
florins。　　It　is　yours　whenever　you　like　to　ask　me　for　it。〃

Christina　could　not　understand；　neither　then　nor　during　the　days　that
followed；　nor　did　Nicholas　enlighten　her。　　For　the　soul　of　Jan　had
entered　into　a　very　wise　old　man；　who　knew　that　the　best　way　to　live
down　the　past　is　to　live　boldly　the　present。　　All　that　Christina　could
be　sure　of　was　that　the　old　Nicholas　Snyders　had　mysteriously
vanished；　that　in　his　place　remained　a　new　Nicholas；　who　looked　at　her
with　kindly　eyesfrank　and　honest；　compelling　confidence。　　Though
Nicholas　never　said　so；　it　came　to　Christina　that　she　herself；　her
sweet　example；　her　ennobling　influence　it　was　that　had　wrought　this
wondrous　change。　　And　to　Christina　the　explanation　seemed　not
impossibleseemed　even　pleasing。

The　sight　of　his　littered　desk　was　hateful　to　him。　　Starting　early　in
the　morning；　Nicholas　would　disappear　for　the　entire　day；　returning　in
the　evening　tired　but　cheerful；　bringing　with　him　flowers　that
Christina　laughed　at；　telling　him　they　were　weeds。　　But　what　mattered
names？　　To　Nicholas　they　were　beautiful。　　In　Zandam　the　children　ran
from　him；　the　dogs　barked　after　him。　　So　Nicholas；　escaping　through
byways；　would　wander　far　into　the　country。　　Children　in　the　villages
around　came　to　know　a　kind　old　fellow　who　loved　to　linger；　his　hands
resting　on　his　staff；　watching　their　play；　listening　to　their
laughter；　whose　ample　pockets　were　storehouses　of　good　things。　　Their
elders；　passing　by；　would　whisper　to　one　another　how　like　he　was　in
features　to　wicked　old　Nick；　the　miser　of　Zandam；　and　would　wonder
where　he　came　from。　　Nor　was　it　only　the　faces　of　the　children　that
taught　his　lips　to　smile。　　It　troubled　him　at　first　to　find　the　world
so　full　of　marvellously　pretty　girlsof　pretty　women　also；　all　more
or　less　lovable。　　It　bewildered　him。　　Until　he　found　that；
notwithstanding；　Christina　remained　always　in　his　thoughts　the
prettiest；　the　most　lovable　of　them　all。　　Then　every　pretty　face
rejoiced　him：　　it　reminded　him　of　Christina。

On　his　return　the　second　day；　Christina　had　met　him　with　sadness　in
her　eyes。　　Farmer　Beerstraater；　an　old　friend　of　her　father's；　had
called　to　see　Nicholas；　not　finding　Nicholas；　had　talked　a　little　with
Christina。　　A　hardhearted　creditor　was　turning　him　out　of　his　farm。
Christina　pretended　not　to　know　that　the　creditor　was　Nicholas
himself；　but　marvelled　that　such　wicked　men　could　be。　　Nicholas　said
nothing；　but　the　next　day　Farmer　Beerstraater　had　called　again；　all
smiles；　blessings；　and　great　wonder。

〃But　what　can　have　come　to　him？〃　repeated　Farmer　Beerstraater　over　and
over。

Christina　had　smiled　and　answered　that　perhaps　the　good　God　had
touched　his　heart；　but　thought　to　herself　that　perhaps　it　had　been　the
good　influence　of　another。　　The　tale　flew。　　Christina　found　herself
besieged　on　every　hand；　and；　finding　her　intercessions　invariably
successful；　grew　day　by　day　more　pleased　with　herself；　and　by
consequence　more　pleased　with　Nicholas　Snyders。　　For　Nicholas　was　a
cunning　old　gentleman。　　Jan's　soul　in　him　took　delight　in　undoing　the
evil　the　soul　of　Nicholas　had　wrought。　　But　the　brain　of　Nicholas
Snyders　that　remained　to　him　whispered：　　〃Let　the　little　maid　think　it
is　all　her　doing。〃

The　news　reached　the　ears　of　Dame　Toelast。　　The　same　evening　saw　her
seated　in　the　inglenook　opposite　Nicholas　Snyders；　who　smoked　and
seemed　bored。

〃You　are　making　a　fool　of　yourself；　Nicholas　Snyders；〃　the　Dame　told
him。　　〃Everybody　is　laughing　at　you。〃

〃I　had　rather　they　laughed　than　cursed　me；〃　growled　Nicholas。

〃Have　you　forgotten　all　that　has　passed　between　us？〃　demanded　the
Dame。

〃Wish　I　could；〃　sighed　Nicholas。

〃At　your　age〃　commenced　the　Dame。

〃I　am　feeling　younger　than　I　ever　felt　in　all　my　life；〃　Nicholas
interrupted　her。

〃You　don't　look　it；〃　commented　the　Dame。

〃What　do　looks　matter？〃　snapped　Nicholas。　　〃It　is　the　soul　of　a　man
that　is　the　real　man。〃

〃They　count　for　something；　as　the　world　goes；〃　explained　the　Dame。
〃Why；　if　I　liked　to　follow　your　example　and　make　a　fool　of　myself；
there　are　young　men；　fine　young　men；　handsome　young　men〃

〃Don't　let　me　stand　in　your　way；〃　interposed　Nicholas　quickly。　　〃As
you　say；　I　am　old　and　I　have　a　devil　of　a　temper。　　There　must　be　many
better　men　than　I　am；　men　more　worthy　of　you。〃

〃I　don't　say　there　are　not；〃　returned　the　Dame：　　〃but　nobody　more
suitable。　　Girls　for　boys；　and　old　women　for　old　men。　　I　haven't　lost
my　wits；　Nicholas　Snyders；　if　you　have。　　When　you　are　yourself
again〃

Nicholas　Snyders　sprang　to　his　feet。　　〃I　am　myself；〃　he　cried；　〃and
intend　to　remain　myself！　　Who　dares　say　I　am　not　myself？〃

〃I　do；〃　retorted　the　Dame　with　exasperating　coolness。〃　　Nicholas
Snyders　is　not　himself　when　at　the　bidding　of　a　pretty…faced　doll　he
flings　his　money　out　of　the　window　with　both　hands。　　He　is　a　creature
bewitched；　and　I　am　sorry　for　him。　　She'll　fool　you　for　the　sake　of
her　friends　till　you　haven't　a　cent　left；　and　then　she'll　laugh　at
you。　　When　you　are　yourself；　Nicholas　Snyders；　you　will　be　crazy　with
yourselfremember　that。〃　　And　Dame　Toelast　marched　out　and　slammed
the　door　behind　her。

〃Girls　for　boys；　and　old　women　for　old　men。〃　　The　phrase　kept　ringing
in　his　ears。　　Hitherto　his　new…found　happiness　had　filled　his　life；
leaving　no　room　for　thought。　　But　the　old　Dame's　words　had　sown　the
seed　of　reflection。

Was　Christina　fooling　him？　　The　thought　was　impossible。　　Never　once
had　she　pleaded　for　herself；　never　once　for　Jan。　　The　evil　thought　was
the　creature　of　Dame　Toelast's　evil　mind。　　Christina　loved　him。　　Her
face　brightened　at　his　coming。　　The　fear　of　him　had　gone　out　of　her；　a
pretty　tyranny　had　replaced　it。　　But　was　it　the　love　that　he　sought？
Jan's　soul　in　old　Nick's　body　was　young　and　ardent。　　It　desired
Christina　not　as　a　daughter；　but　as　a　wife。　　Could　it　win　her　in　spite
of　old　Nick's　body？　　The　soul　of　Jan　was　an　impatient　soul。　　Better　to
know　than　to　doubt。

〃Do　not　light　the　candles；　let　us　talk　a　little　by　the　light　of　the
fire　only；〃　said　Nicholas。　　And　Christina；　smiling；　drew　her　chair
towards　the　blaze。　　But　Nicholas　sat　in　the　shadow。

〃You　grow　more　beautiful　every　day；　Christina；〃　said　Nicholas
〃sweeter　and　more　womanly。　　He　will　be　a　happy　man　who　calls　you
wife。〃

The　smile　passed　from　Christina's　face。　　〃I　shall　never　marry；〃　she
answered。　　〃Never　is　a　long　word；　little　one。〃

〃A　true　woman　does　not　marry　the　man　she　does　not　love。〃

〃But　may　she　not　marry　the　man　she　does？〃　smiled　Nicholas。

〃Sometimes　she　may　not；〃　Christina　explained。

〃And　when　is　that？〃

Christina's　face　was　turned　away。　　〃When　　he　　has　　ceased　　to　　love
her。〃

The　soul　in　old　Nick's　body　leapt　with　joy。　　〃He　is　not　worthy　of　you；
Christina。　　His　new　fortune　has　changed　him。　　Is　it　not　so？　　He　thinks
only　of　money。　　It　is　as　though　the　soul　of　a　miser　had　entered　into
him。　　He　would　marry　even　Dame　Toelast　for　the　sake　of　her　gold…bags
and　her　broad　lands　and　her　many　mills；　if　only　she　would　have　him。
Cannot　you　forget　him？〃

〃I　shall　never　forget　him。　　I　shall　never　love　another　man。　　I　try　to
hide　it；　and　often　I　am　content　to　find　there　is　so　much　in　the　world
that　I　can　do。　　But　my　heart　is　breaking。〃　　She　rose　and；　kneeling
beside　him；　clasped　her　hands　around　him。　　〃I　am　glad　you　have　let　me
tell　you；〃　she　said。　　〃But　for　you　I　could　not　have　borne　it。　　You　are
so　good　to　me。〃

For　answer　he　stroked　with　his　withered　hand　the　golden　hair　that　fell
disordered　about　his　withered　knees。　　She　raised　her　eyes　to　him；　they
were　filled　with　tears；　but　smiling。

〃I　cannot　understand；〃　she　said。　　〃I　think　sometimes　that　you　and　he
must　have　changed　souls。　　He　is　hard　and　mean　and　cruel；　as　you　used
to　be。〃　　She　laughed；　and　the　arms　around　him　tightened　for　a　moment。
〃And　now　you　are　kind　and　tender　and　great；　as　once　he　was。　　It　is　as
if　the　good　God　had　taken　away　my　lover　from　me　to　give　to　me　a
father。〃

〃Listen　to　me；　Christina；〃　he　said。　　〃It　is　the　soul　that　is　the　man；
not　the　body。　　Could　you　not　love　me　for　my　new　soul？〃

〃But　I　do　love　you；〃　answered　Christina；　smiling　through　her　tears。

〃Could　you　as　a　husband？〃　　The　firelight　fell　upon　her　face。
Nicholas；　holding　it　between　his　withered　hands；　looked　into　it　long
and　hard；　and　reading　what　he　read　there；　laid　it　back　against　his
breast　and　soothed　it　with　his　withered　hand。

〃I　was　jesting；　little　one；〃　he　said。　　〃Girls　for　boys；　and　old　women
for　old　men。　　And　so；　in　spite　of　all；　you　still　love　Jan？〃

〃I　love　him；〃　answered　Christina。　　〃I　cannot　help　it。〃

〃And　if　he　would；　you　would　marry　him；　let　his　soul　be　what　it　may？〃

〃I　love　him；〃　answered　Chr