saidthesoldier."sitfast,whenyoudance,"saidhe,addressingtheshoes,andslappingthesoleswithhishand.

theoldladygavethesoldiersomemoneyandthenwentwithkarenintothechurch.

andallthepeopleinsidelookedatkaren'sredshoes,andallthefiguresgazedatthem;whenkarenkneltbeforethealtarandputthegoldengoblettohermouth,shethoughtonlyoftheredshoes.itseemedtoherasthoughtheywereswimmingaboutinthegoblet,andsheforgottosingthepsalm,forgottosaythe"lord'sprayer."

noweveryonecameoutofchurch,andtheoldladysteppedintohercarriage.butjustaskarenwasliftingupherfoottogetintoo,theoldsoldiersaid:"dearme,whatprettydancingshoes!"andkarencouldnothelpit,shewasobligedtodanceafewsteps;andwhenshehadoncebegun,herlegscontinuedtodance.itseemedasiftheshoeshadgotpoweroverthem.shedancedroundthechurchcorner,forshecouldnotstop;thecoachmanhadtorunafterherandseizeher.heliftedherintothecarriage,butherfeetcontinuedtodance,sothatshekickedthegoodoldladyviolently.atlasttheytookoffhershoes,andherlegswereatrest.

athometheshoeswereputintothecupboard,butkarencouldnothelplookingatthem.

nowtheoldladyfellill,anditwassaidthatshewouldnotrisefromherbedagain.shehadtobenursedandwaitedupon,andthiswasnoone'sdutymorethankaren's.buttherewasagrandballinthetown,andkarenwasinvited.shelookedattheredshoes,sayingtoherselfthattherewasnosinindoingthat;sheputtheredshoeson,thinkingtherewasnoharminthateither;andthenshewenttotheball;andcommencedtodance.

butwhenshewantedtogototheright,theshoesdancedtotheleft,andwhenshewantedtodanceuptheroom,theshoesdanceddowntheroom,downthestairsthroughthestreet,andoutthroughthegatesofthetown.shedanced,andwasobligedtodance,faroutintothedarkwood.suddenlysomethingshoneupamongthetrees,andshebelieveditwasthemoon,foritwasaface.butitwastheoldsoldierwiththeredbeard;hesattherenoddinghisheadandsaid:"dearme,whatprettydancingshoes!"

shewasfrightened,andwantedtothrowtheredshoesaway;buttheystuckfast.shetoreoffherstockings,buttheshoeshadgrownfasttoherfeet.shedancedandwasobligedtogoondancingoverfieldandmeadow,inrainandsunshine,bynightandbyday-butbynightitwasmosthorrible.

shedancedoutintotheopenchurchyard;butthedeadtheredidnotdance.theyhadsomethingbettertodothanthat.shewantedtositdownonthepauper'sgravewherethebitterferngrows;butforhertherewasneitherpeacenorrest.andasshedancedpasttheopenchurchdoorshesawanangelthereinlongwhiterobes,withwingsreachingfromhisshouldersdowntotheearth;hisfacewassternandgrave,andinhishandheheldabroadshiningsword.

"danceyoushall,"saidhe,"danceinyourredshoestillyouarepaleandcold,tillyourskinshrivelsupandyouareaskeleton!danceyoushall,fromdoortodoor,andwhereproudandwickedchildrenliveyoushallknock,sothattheymayhearyouandfearyou!danceyoushall,dance-!"

"mercy!"criedkaren.butshedidnothearwhattheangelanswered,fortheshoescarriedherthroughthegateintothefields,alonghighwaysandbyways,andunceasinglyshehadtodance.

onemorningshedancedpastadoorthatsheknewwell;theyweresingingapsalminside,andacoffinwasbeingcarriedoutcoveredwithflowers.thensheknewthatshewasforsakenbyeveryoneanddamnedbytheangelofgod.

shedanced,andwasobligedtogoondancingthroughthedarknight.theshoesboreherawayoverthornsandstumpstillshewasalltornandbleeding;shedancedawayovertheheathtoalonelylittlehouse.here,sheknew,livedtheexecutioner;andshetappedwithherfingeratthewindowandsaid:

"comeout,comeout!