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would burst。 He kept down the tears； but it was easy to see how
sorrowful he was。
〃You honest； faithful soul；〃 she exclaimed； and the words loosened
Knud's tongue； and he told her how truly he had loved her； and that
she must be his wife； and as he said this； he saw Joanna change color；
and turn pale。 She let his hand fall； and said； earnestly and
mournfully； 〃Knud； do not make yourself and me unhappy。 I will
always be a good sister to you； one in whom you can trust； but I can
never be anything more。〃 And she drew her white hand over his
burning forehead； and said； 〃God gives strength to bear a great
deal； if we only strive ourselves to endure。〃
At this moment her stepmother came into the room； and Joanna
said quickly； 〃Knud is so unhappy； because I am going away；〃 and it
appeared as if they had only been talking of her journey。 〃Come； be
a man〃 she added； placing her hand on his shoulder； 〃you are still a
child； and you must be good and reasonable； as you were when we were both children； and played together under the willow…tree。〃
Knud listened； but he felt as if the world had slid out of its
course。 His thoughts were like a loose thread fluttering to and fro in
the wind。 He stayed； although he could not tell whether she had
asked him to do so。 But she was kind and gentle to him； she poured out his tea； and sang to him； but the song had not the old tone in it；
although it was wonderfully beautiful； and made his heart feel ready
to burst。 And then he rose to go。 He did not offer his hand； but she
seized it； and said… 〃Will you not shake hands with your sister at parting； my old playfellow？〃 and she smiled through the tears that were rolling down her cheeks。 Again she repeated the word 〃brother；〃 which was a great consolation certainly； and thus they parted。
She sailed to France； and Knud wandered about the muddy streets of
Copenhagen。 The other journeymen in the shop asked him why he looked so gloomy； and wanted him to go and amuse himself with them； as he was still a young man。 So he went with them to a dancing…room。 He saw many handsome girls there； but none like Joanna； and here； where he thought to forget her； she was more life…like before his mind than ever。
〃God gives us strength to bear much； if we try to do our best；〃 she
had said； and as he thought of this； a devout feeling came into his
mind； and he folded his hands。 Then； as the violins played and the
girls danced round the room； he started； for it seemed to him as if he
were in a place where he ought not to have brought Joanna； for she was here with him in his heart； and so he went out at once。 As he went through the streets at a quick pace； he passed the house where she used to live； it was all dark； empty； and lonely。 But the world went
on its course； and Knud was obliged to go on too。
Winter came； the water was frozen； and everything seemed buried in
a cold grave。 But when spring returned； and the first steamer prepared
to sail； Knud was seized with a longing to wander forth into the
world； but not to France。 So he packed his knapsack； and travelled
through Germany； going from town to town； but finding neither rest
or peace。 It was not till he arrived at the glorious old town of
Nuremberg that he gained the mastery over himself； and rested his
weary feet； and here he remained。
Nuremberg is a wonderful old city； and looks as if it had been cut
out of an old picture…book。 The streets seem to have arranged
themselves according to their own fancy； and as if the houses objected to stand in rows or rank and file。 Gables； with little towers；
ornamented columns； and statues； can be seen even to the city gate；
and from the singular…shaped roofs； waterspouts； formed like
dragons； or long lean dogs； extend far across to the middle of the
street。 Here； in the market…place； stood Knud； with his knapsack on
his back； close to one of the old fountains which are so beautifully
adorned with figures； scriptural and historical； and which spring up
between the sparkling jets of water。 A pretty servant…maid was just
filling her pails； and she gave Knud a refreshing draught； she had a
handful of roses； and she gave him one； which appeared to him like a
good omen for the future。 From a neighboring church came the sounds of music； and the familiar tones reminded him of the organ at home at Kjoge； so he passed into the great cathedral。 The sunshine streamed through the painted glass windows； and between two lofty slender pillars。 His thoughts became prayerful； and calm peace rested on his soul。 He next sought and found a good master in Nuremberg； with whom he stayed and learnt the German language。
The old moat round the town had been converted into a number of
little kitchen gardens； but the high walls； with their heavy…looking
towers； are still standing。 Inside these walls the ropemaker twisted
his ropes along a walk built like a gallery； and in the cracks and
crevices of the walls elderbushes grow and stretch their green
boughs over the small houses which stand below。 In one of these houses lived the master for whom Knud worked； and over the little garret window where he sat； the elder…tree waved its branches。 Here he dwelt through one summer and winter； but when spring came again； he could endure it no longer。 The elder was in blossom； and its fragrance was so homelike； that he fancied himself back again in the gardens of Kjoge。 So Knud left his master； and went to work for another who lived farther in the town； where no elder grew。 His workshop was quite close to one of the old stone bridges； near to a water…mill； round which the roaring stream rushed and foamed always； yet restrained by the neighboring houses； whose old； decayed balconies hung over； and seemed ready to fall into the water。 Here grew no elder； here was not even a flower…pot； with its little green plant； but just opposite the workshop stood a great willow…tree； which seemed to hold fast to the house for fear of being carried away by the water。 It stretched its branches over the stream just as those of the
willow…tree in the garden at Kjoge had spread over the river。 Yes；
he had indeed gone from elder…mother to willow…father。 There was a
something about the tree here； especially in the moonlight nights；
that went direct to his heart； yet it was not in reality the
moonlight； but the old tree itself。 However； he could not endure it：
and why？ Ask the willow； ask the blossoming elder！ At all events； he
bade farewell to Nuremberg and journeyed onwards。 He never spoke of Joanna to any one； his sorrow was hidden in his heart。 The old
childish story of the two cakes had a deep meaning for him。 He
understood now why the gingerbread man had a bitter almond in his left side； his was the feeling of bitterness； and Joanna； so mild and
friendly； was represented by the honeycake maiden。 As he thought
upon all this； the strap of his knapsack pressed across his chest so
that he could hardly breathe； he loosened it； but gained no relief。 He
saw but half the world around him； the other half he carried with
him in his inward thoughts； and this is the condition in which he left
Nuremberg。 Not till he caught sight of the lofty mountains did the
world appear more free to him； his thoughts were attracted to outer
objects； and tears came into his eyes。 The Alps appeared to him like
the wings of earth folded together； unfolded； they would display the
variegated pictures of dark woods； foaming waters； spreading clouds；
and masses of snow。 〃At the last day；〃 thought he； 〃the earth will
unfold its great wings； and soar upwards to the skies； there to
burst like a soap…bubble in the radiant glance of the Deity。 Oh；〃
sighed he； 〃that the last day were come！〃
Silently he wandered on through the country of the Alps； which
seemed to him like a fruit garden； covered with soft turf。 From the
wooden balconies of the houses the young lacemakers nodded as he
passed。 The summits of the mountains glowed in the red evening sunset； and the green lakes beneath the dark trees reflected the glow。
Then he thought of the sea coast by the bay Kjoge； with a longing in his heart that was； however； without pain。 There； where the Rhine rolls onward like a great billow； and disso