第2章

Involuntarilyhestretchedhishandstowardsit，feltapangofgriefwhenitvanished，leavingonlythegreylight。Hedrewtherustybolts，flungopenthegreatdoor。Astrangeworldlaybeforehim，anewworldoflightsandshadows，thatwooedhimwiththeirbeauty——aworldoflow，softvoicesthatcalledtohim。Therecametohimagainthatbittersenseofhavingbeenrobbed。

"Icouldhavebeensohappyalltheseyears，"murmuredoldNicholastohimself。"ItisjustthelittletownIcouldhaveloved——soquaint，soquiet，sohomelike。Imighthavehadfriends，oldcronies，childrenofmyownmaybe——"

AvisionofthesleepingChristinaflashedbeforehiseyes。Shehadcometohimachild，feelingonlygratitudetowardshim。Hadhehadeyeswithwhichtoseeher，allthingsmighthavebeendifferent。

Wasittoolate？Heisnotsoold——notsoveryold。Newlifeisinhisveins。ShestilllovesJan，butthatwastheJanofyesterday。

Inthefuture，Jan’severywordanddeedwillbepromptedbytheevilsoulthatwasoncethesoulofNicholasSnyders——thatNicholasSnydersrememberswell。Cananywomanlovethat，letthecasebeashandsomeasyouwill？

Oughthe，asanhonestman，tokeepthesoulhehadwonfromJanbywhatmightbecalledatrick？Yes，ithadbeenafairbargain，andJanhadtakenhisprice。Besides，itwasnotasifJanhadfashionedhisownsoul;thesethingsarechance。Whyshouldonemanbegivengold，andanotherbegivenparchedpeas？HehasasmuchrighttoJan’ssoulasJaneverhad。Heiswiser，hecandomoregoodwithit。

ItwasJan’ssoulthatlovedChristina;letJan’ssoulwinherifitcan。AndJan’ssoul，listeningtotheargument，couldnotthinkofawordtoofferinopposition。

ChristinawasstillasleepwhenNicholasre—enteredthekitchen。Helightedthefireandcookedthebreakfastandthenarousedhergently。

TherewasnodoubtitwasChristina。ThemomenthereyesrestedonoldNicholas，therecamebacktoherthefrightenedrabbitlookthathadalwaysirritatedhim。Itirritatedhimnow，buttheirritationwasagainsthimself。

"YouweresleepingsosoundlywhenIcameinlastnight——"Christinacommenced。

"Andyouwereafraidtowakeme，"Nicholasinterruptedher。"Youthoughttheoldcurmudgeonwouldbecross。Listen，Christina。Youpaidoffyesterdaythelastdebtyourfatherowed。Itwastoanoldsailor——Ihadnotbeenabletofindhimbefore。Notacentmoredoyouowe，andthereremainstoyou，outofyourwages，ahundredflorins。Itisyourswheneveryouliketoaskmeforit。"

Christinacouldnotunderstand，neitherthennorduringthedaysthatfollowed;nordidNicholasenlightenher。ForthesoulofJanhadenteredintoaverywiseoldman，whoknewthatthebestwaytolivedownthepastistoliveboldlythepresent。AllthatChristinacouldbesureofwasthattheoldNicholasSnydershadmysteriouslyvanished，thatinhisplaceremainedanewNicholas，wholookedatherwithkindlyeyes——frankandhonest，compellingconfidence。ThoughNicholasneversaidso，itcametoChristinathatsheherself，hersweetexample，herennoblinginfluenceitwasthathadwroughtthiswondrouschange。AndtoChristinatheexplanationseemednotimpossible——seemedevenpleasing。

Thesightofhislittereddeskwashatefultohim。Startingearlyinthemorning，Nicholaswoulddisappearfortheentireday，returningintheeveningtiredbutcheerful，bringingwithhimflowersthatChristinalaughedat，tellinghimtheywereweeds。Butwhatmatterednames？ToNicholastheywerebeautiful。InZandamthechildrenranfromhim，thedogsbarkedafterhim。SoNicholas，escapingthroughbyways，wouldwanderfarintothecountry。Childreninthevillagesaroundcametoknowakindoldfellowwholovedtolinger，hishandsrestingonhisstaff，watchingtheirplay，listeningtotheirlaughter;whoseamplepocketswerestorehousesofgoodthings。Theirelders，passingby，wouldwhispertooneanotherhowlikehewasinfeaturestowickedoldNick，themiserofZandam，andwouldwonderwherehecamefrom。Norwasitonlythefacesofthechildrenthattaughthislipstosmile。Ittroubledhimatfirsttofindtheworldsofullofmarvellouslyprettygirls——ofprettywomenalso，allmoreorlesslovable。Itbewilderedhim。Untilhefoundthat，notwithstanding，Christinaremainedalwaysinhisthoughtstheprettiest，themostlovableofthemall。Theneveryprettyfacerejoicedhim:itremindedhimofChristina。

Onhisreturnthesecondday，Christinahadmethimwithsadnessinhereyes。FarmerBeerstraater，anoldfriendofherfather’s，hadcalledtoseeNicholas;notfindingNicholas，hadtalkedalittlewithChristina。Ahardheartedcreditorwasturninghimoutofhisfarm。

ChristinapretendednottoknowthatthecreditorwasNicholashimself，butmarvelledthatsuchwickedmencouldbe。Nicholassaidnothing，butthenextdayFarmerBeerstraaterhadcalledagain，allsmiles，blessings，andgreatwonder。

"Butwhatcanhavecometohim？"repeatedFarmerBeerstraateroverandover。

ChristinahadsmiledandansweredthatperhapsthegoodGodhadtouchedhisheart;butthoughttoherselfthatperhapsithadbeenthegoodinfluenceofanother。Thetaleflew。Christinafoundherselfbesiegedoneveryhand，and，findingherintercessionsinvariablysuccessful，grewdaybydaymorepleasedwithherself，andbyconsequencemorepleasedwithNicholasSnyders。ForNicholaswasacunningoldgentleman。Jan’ssoulinhimtookdelightinundoingtheevilthesoulofNicholashadwrought。ButthebrainofNicholasSnydersthatremainedtohimwhispered:"Letthelittlemaidthinkitisallherdoing。"

ThenewsreachedtheearsofDameToelast。ThesameeveningsawherseatedintheinglenookoppositeNicholasSnyders，whosmokedandseemedbored。

"Youaremakingafoolofyourself，NicholasSnyders，"theDametoldhim。"Everybodyislaughingatyou。"

"Ihadrathertheylaughedthancursedme，"growledNicholas。

"Haveyouforgottenallthathaspassedbetweenus？"demandedtheDame。

"WishIcould，"sighedNicholas。

"Atyourage——"commencedtheDame。

"IamfeelingyoungerthanIeverfeltinallmylife，"Nicholasinterruptedher。

"Youdon’tlookit，"commentedtheDame。

"Whatdolooksmatter？"snappedNicholas。"Itisthesoulofamanthatistherealman。"

"Theycountforsomething，astheworldgoes，"explainedtheDame。

"Why，ifIlikedtofollowyourexampleandmakeafoolofmyself，thereareyoungmen，fineyoungmen，handsomeyoungmen——"

"Don’tletmestandinyourway，"interposedNicholasquickly。"Asyousay，IamoldandIhaveadevilofatemper。TheremustbemanybettermenthanIam，menmoreworthyofyou。"

"Idon’tsaytherearenot，"returnedtheDame:"butnobodymoresuitable。Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。Ihaven’tlostmywits，NicholasSnyders，ifyouhave。Whenyouareyourselfagain——"

NicholasSnyderssprangtohisfeet。"Iammyself，"hecried，"andintendtoremainmyself！WhodaressayIamnotmyself？"

"Ido，"retortedtheDamewithexasperatingcoolness。"NicholasSnydersisnothimselfwhenatthebiddingofapretty—faceddollheflingshismoneyoutofthewindowwithbothhands。Heisacreaturebewitched，andIamsorryforhim。She’llfoolyouforthesakeofherfriendstillyouhaven’tacentleft，andthenshe’lllaughatyou。Whenyouareyourself，NicholasSnyders，youwillbecrazywithyourself——rememberthat。"AndDameToelastmarchedoutandslammedthedoorbehindher。

"Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。"Thephrasekeptringinginhisears。Hithertohisnew—foundhappinesshadfilledhislife，leavingnoroomforthought。ButtheoldDame’swordshadsowntheseedofreflection。

WasChristinafoolinghim？Thethoughtwasimpossible。Neveroncehadshepleadedforherself，neveronceforJan。TheevilthoughtwasthecreatureofDameToelast’sevilmind。Christinalovedhim。Herfacebrightenedathiscoming。Thefearofhimhadgoneoutofher;aprettytyrannyhadreplacedit。Butwasitthelovethathesought？

Jan’ssoulinoldNick’sbodywasyoungandardent。ItdesiredChristinanotasadaughter，butasawife。CoulditwinherinspiteofoldNick’sbody？ThesoulofJanwasanimpatientsoul。Bettertoknowthantodoubt。

"Donotlightthecandles;letustalkalittlebythelightofthefireonly，"saidNicholas。AndChristina，smiling，drewherchairtowardstheblaze。ButNicholassatintheshadow。

"Yougrowmorebeautifuleveryday，Christina，"saidNicholas——

"sweeterandmorewomanly。Hewillbeahappymanwhocallsyouwife。"

ThesmilepassedfromChristina’sface。"Ishallnevermarry，"sheanswered。"Neverisalongword，littleone。"

"Atruewomandoesnotmarrythemanshedoesnotlove。"

"Butmayshenotmarrythemanshedoes？"smiledNicholas。

"Sometimesshemaynot，"Christinaexplained。

"Andwhenisthat？"

Christina’sfacewasturnedaway。"Whenhehasceasedtoloveher。"

ThesoulinoldNick’sbodyleaptwithjoy。"Heisnotworthyofyou，Christina。Hisnewfortunehaschangedhim。Isitnotso？Hethinksonlyofmoney。Itisasthoughthesoulofamiserhadenteredintohim。HewouldmarryevenDameToelastforthesakeofhergold—bagsandherbroadlandsandhermanymills，ifonlyshewouldhavehim。

Cannotyouforgethim？"

"Ishallneverforgethim。Ishallneverloveanotherman。Itrytohideit;andoftenIamcontenttofindthereissomuchintheworldthatIcando。Butmyheartisbreaking。"Sheroseand，kneelingbesidehim，claspedherhandsaroundhim。"Iamgladyouhaveletmetellyou，"shesaid。"ButforyouIcouldnothaveborneit。Youaresogoodtome。"

Foranswerhestrokedwithhiswitheredhandthegoldenhairthatfelldisorderedabouthiswitheredknees。Sheraisedhereyestohim;theywerefilledwithtears，butsmiling。

"Icannotunderstand，"shesaid。"Ithinksometimesthatyouandhemusthavechangedsouls。Heishardandmeanandcruel，asyouusedtobe。"Shelaughed，andthearmsaroundhimtightenedforamoment。

"Andnowyouarekindandtenderandgreat，asoncehewas。ItisasifthegoodGodhadtakenawaymyloverfrommetogivetomeafather。"

"Listentome，Christina，"hesaid。"Itisthesoulthatistheman，notthebody。Couldyounotlovemeformynewsoul？"

"ButIdoloveyou，"answeredChristina，smilingthroughhertears。

"Couldyouasahusband？"Thefirelightfelluponherface。

Nicholas，holdingitbetweenhiswitheredhands，lookedintoitlongandhard;andreadingwhathereadthere，laiditbackagainsthisbreastandsootheditwithhiswitheredhand。

"Iwasjesting，littleone，"hesaid。"Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。Andso，inspiteofall，youstillloveJan？"

"Ilovehim，"answeredChristina。"Icannothelpit。"

"Andifhewould，youwouldmarryhim，lethissoulbewhatitmay？"

"Ilovehim，"answeredChristina。"Icannothelpit。"

OldNicholassatalonebeforethedyingfire。Isitthesoulorthebodythatistherealman？Theanswerwasnotsosimpleashehadthoughtit。

"ChristinalovedJan"——soNicholasmumbledtothedyingfire——"whenhehadthesoulofJan。Sheloveshimstill，thoughhehasthesoulofNicholasSnyders。WhenIaskedherifshecouldloveme，itwasterrorIreadinhereyes，thoughJan’ssoulisnowinme;shedivinedit。ItmustbethebodythatistherealJan，therealNicholas。IfthesoulofChristinaenteredintothebodyofDameToelast，shouldI

turnfromChristina，fromhergoldenhair，herfathomlesseyes，heraskinglips，todesiretheshrivelledcarcassofDameToelast？No;I

shouldstillshudderatthethoughtofher。YetwhenIhadthesoulofNicholasSnyders，Ididnotloatheher，whileChristinawasnaughttome。Itmustbewiththesoulthatwelove，elseJanwouldstillloveChristinaandIshouldbeMiserNick。YethereamIlovingChristina，usingNicholasSnyders’brainandgoldtothwartNicholasSnyders’everyscheme，doingeverythingthatIknowwillmakehimmadwhenhecomesbackintohisownbody;whileJancaresnolongerforChristina，wouldmarryDameToelastforherbroadlands，hermanymills。Clearlyitisthesoulthatistherealman。ThenoughtInottobeglad，thinkingIamgoingbackintomyownbody，knowingthatI

shallwedChristina？ButIamnotglad;Iamverymiserable。IshallnotgowithJan’ssoul，Ifeelit;myownsoulwillcomebacktome。

Ishallbeagainthehard，cruel，meanoldmanIwasbefore，onlynowIshallbepoorandhelpless。Thefolkswilllaughatme，andIshallcursethem，powerlesstodothemevil。EvenDameToelastwillnotwantmewhenshelearnsall。AndyetImustdothisthing。SolongasJan’ssoulisinme，IloveChristinabetterthanmyself。Imustdothisforhersake。Iloveher——Icannothelpit。"

OldNicholasrose，tookfromtheplace，whereamonthbeforehehadhiddenit，thesilverflaskofcunningworkmanship。

"Justtwomoreglassfulsleft，"musedNicholas，ashegentlyshooktheflaskagainsthisear。Helaiditonthedeskbeforehim，thenopenedonceagaintheoldgreenledger，fortherestillremainedworktobedone。

HewokeChristinaearly。"Taketheseletters，Christina，"hecommanded。"Whenyouhavedeliveredthemall，butnotbefore，gotoJan;tellhimIamwaitingheretoseehimonamatterofbusiness。"

Hekissedherandseemedlothtolethergo。

"Ishallonlybealittlewhile，"smiledChristina。

"Allpartingstakebutalittlewhile，"heanswered。

OldNicholashadforeseenthetroublehewouldhave。Janwascontent，hadnodesiretobeagainasentimentalyoungfool，eagertosaddlehimselfwithapennilesswife。Janhadotherdreams。

"Drink，man，drink！"criedNicholasimpatiently，"beforeIamtemptedtochangemymind。Christina，providedyoumarryher，istherichestbrideinZandam。Thereisthedeed;readit;andreadquickly。"

ThenJanconsented，andthetwomendrank。Andtherepassedabreathbetweenthemasbefore;andJanwithhishandscoveredhiseyesamoment。

Itwasapity，perhaps，thathedidso，forinthatmomentNicholassnatchedatthedeedthatlaybesideJanonthedesk。Thenextinstantitwasblazinginthefire。

"Notsopoorasyouthought！"camethecroakingvoiceofNicholas。

"Notsopoorasyouthought！Icanbuildagain，Icanbuildagain！"

Andthecreature，laughinghideously，dancedwithitswitheredarmsspreadoutbeforetheblaze，lestJanshouldseektorescueChristina’sburningdowrybeforeitwasdestroyed。

JandidnottellChristina。InspiteofallJancouldsay，shewouldgoback。NicholasSnydersdroveherfromthedoorwithcurses。Shecouldnotunderstand。TheonlythingclearwasthatJanhadcomebacktoher。

"’Twasastrangemadnessthatseizeduponme，"Janexplained。"Letthegoodseabreezesbringushealth。"

SofromthedeckofJan’sshiptheywatchedoldZandamtillitvanishedintoair。

Christinacriedalittleatthethoughtofneverseeingitagain;butJancomfortedherandlaternewfaceshidtheold。

AndoldNicholasmarriedDameToelast，but，happily，livedtodoevilonlyforafewyearslonger。

Longafter，JantoldChristinathewholestory，butitsoundedveryimprobable，andChristina——though，ofcourse，shedidnotsayso——didnotquitebelieveit，butthoughtJanwastryingtoexplainawaythatstrangemonthofhislifeduringwhichhehadwooedDameToelast。YetitcertainlywasstrangethatNicholas，forthesameshortmonth，hadbeensodifferentfromhisusualself。

"Perhaps，"thoughtChristina，"ifIhadnottoldhimIlovedJan，hewouldnothavegonebacktohisoldways。Pooroldgentleman！Nodoubtitwasdespair。"