criedthemiller.

babettescreamed,andstartedback,whilehereyeswanderedfromrudytothebirdinastonishment.

"youarenottobediscouragedbydifficulties,isee,"saidthemiller.

"andyouwillkeepyourword,"repliedrudy."eachhashisowncharacteristic,whetheritishonororcourage."

"buthowisityoudidnotbreakyourneck?"askedthemiller.

"becauseiheldfast,"answeredrudy;"andimeantoholdfasttobabette."

"youmustgetherfirst,"saidthemiller,laughing;andbabettethoughtthisaverygoodsign.

"wemusttakethebirdoutofthebasket,"saidshe."itisgettingintoarage;howitseyesglare.howdidyoumanagetoconquerit?"

thenrudyhadtodescribehisadventure,andthemiller'seyesopenedwideashelistened.

"withyourcourageandyourgoodfortuneyoumightwinthreewives,"saidthemiller.

"oh,thankyou,"criedrudy.

"butyouhavenotwonbabetteyet,"saidthemiller,slappingtheyoungalpinehunterontheshoulderplayfully.

"haveyouheardthefreshnewsatthemill?"askedtheparlor-catofthekitchen-cat."rudyhasbroughtustheyoungeagle,andheistotakebabetteinexchange.theykissedeachotherinthepresenceoftheoldman,whichisasgoodasanengagement.hewasquitecivilaboutit;drewinhisclaws,andtookhisafternoonnap,sothatthetwowerelefttositandwagtheirtailsasmuchastheypleased.theyhavesomuchtotalkaboutthatitwillnotbefinishedtillchristmas."neitherwasitfinishedtillchristmas.

thewindwhirledthefaded,fallenleaves;thesnowdriftedinthevalleys,aswellasuponthemountains,andtheicemaidensatinthestatelypalacewhich,inwintertime,shegenerallyperpendicularrockswerecoveredwithslipperyice,andwhereinsummerthestreamfromtherockshadleftawateryveil,icicleslargeandheavyhungfromthetrees,whilethesnow-powderedfir-treesweredecoratedwithfantasticgarlandsofcrystal.theicemaidenrodeonthehowlingwindacrossthedeepvalleys,thecountry,asfarasbex,wascoveredwithacarpetofsnow,sothattheicemaidencouldfollowrudy,andseehim,whenhevisitedthemill;andwhileintheroomatthemiller'shouse,wherehewasaccustomedtospendsomuchofhistimewithbabette.theweddingwastotakeplaceinthefollowingsummer,andtheyheardenoughofit,forsomanyoftheirfriendsspokeofthematter.

thencamesunshinetothemill.thebeautifulalpinerosesbloomed,andjoyous,laughingbabette,wasliketheearlyspring,whichmakesallthebirdssingofsummertimeandbridaldays.

"howthosetwodositandchattertogether,"saidtheparlor-cat;"ihavehadenoughoftheirmewing."

ix.theicemaiden

thewalnutandchestnuttrees,whichextendfromthebridgeofurice,bytheriverrhone,totheshoresofthelakeofgeneva,werealreadycoveredwiththedelicategreengarlandsofearlyspring,justburstingintobloom,whiletherhonerushedwildlyfromitssourceamongthegreenglacierswhichformtheicepalaceoftheicemaiden.shesometimesallowsherselftobecarriedbythekeenwindtotheloftysnow-fields,whereshestretchesherselfinthesunshineonthesoftsnowy-cushions.fromthenceshethrowsherfar-seeingglanceintothedeepvalleybeneath,wherehumanbeingsarebusilymovingaboutlikeantsonastoneinthesun."spiritsofstrength,asthechildrenofthesuncallyou,"criedtheicemaiden,"yearebutworms!letbutasnow-ballroll,andyouandyourhousesandyourtownsarecrushedandsweptaway."andsheraisedherproudhead,andlookedaroundherwitheyesthatflasheddeathfromtheirglance.fromthevalleycamearumblingsound;menwerebusilyatworkblastingtherockstoformtunnels,andlayingdownroadsfortherailway."theyareplayingatworkunderground,likemoles,"saidshe."theyarediggingpassagesbeneaththeearth,andthenoiseislikethereportsofcannons.ishallthrowdownmypalaces,fortheclamorislouderthantheroarofthunder."thenthereascendedfromthevalleyathickvapor,whichwaveditselfintheairlikeaflutteringveil.itrose,asaplumeoffeathers,fromasteamengine,towhich,onthelately-openedrailway,astringofcarriageswaslinked,carriagetocarriage,lookinglikeawindingserpent.thetrainshotpastwiththespeedofanarrow."theyplayatbeingmastersdownthere,thosespiritsofstrength!"