I took my fish and went off, going round by way of the blacksmith's
house. Eva was there alone.
“I have been longing for you with all my heart,” I told her. And I was
moved at the sight of her. She could hardly look me in the face for
wonder. “I love your youth and your good eyes,” I said. “Punish me
to-day because I have thought more of another than of you. I tell you, I
have come here only to see you; you make me happy, I am fond of you. Did
you hear me calling for you last night?”
“No,” she answered, frightened.
“I called Edwarda, but it was you I meant. I woke up and heard myself.
Yes, it was you I meant; it was only a mistake; I said 'Edwarda,' but it
was only by accident. By Heaven, you are my dearest, Eva! Your lips are
so red to-day. Your feet are prettier than Edwarda's--just look
yourself and see.”
Joy such as I had never seen in her lit up her face; she made as if to
turn away, but hesitated, and put one arm round my neck.
We talked together, sitting all the time on a long bench, talking to
each other of many things. I said:
“Would you believe it? Edwarda has not learnt to speak properly yet; she
talks like a child, and says 'more happier.' I heard her myself. Would
you say she had a lovely forehead? I do not think so. She has a devilish
forehead. And she does not wash her hands.”
“But we weren't going to talk of her any more.”
“Quite right. I forgot.”
A little pause. I was thinking of something, and fell silent.
“Why are your eyes wet?” asked Eva.
“She has a lovely forehead, though,” I said, “and her hands are always
clean. It was only an accident that they were dirty once. I did not mean
to say what I did.” But then I went on angrily, with clenched teeth: “I
sit thinking of you all the time, Eva; but it occurs to me that perhaps
you have not heard what I am going to tell you now. The first time
Edwarda saw Æsop, she said: 'Æsop--that was the name of a wise man--a
Phrygian, he was.' Now wasn't that simply silly? She had read it in a
book the same day, I'm sure of it.”
“Yes,” says Eva; “but what of it?”
“And as far as I remember, she said, too, that Æsop had Xanthus for his
teacher. Hahaha!”
“Yes?”
“Well, what the devil is the sense of telling a crowd of people that
Æsop had Xanthus for his teacher? I ask you. Oh, you are not in the mood
to-day, Eva, or you would laugh till your sides ached at that.”
“Yes, I think it is funny,” said Eva, and began laughing forcedly and in
wonder. “But I don't understand it as well as you do.”