The sun was shining gloriously, so Karen and the old lady went along the
footpath through the corn, where it was rather dusty.
At the church door stood an old crippled soldier leaning on a crutch; he
had a wonderfully long beard, more red than white, and he bowed down to
the ground and asked the old lady whether he might wipe her shoes. Then
Karen put out her little foot too. “Dear me, what pretty dancing-shoes!” said
the soldier. “Sit fast, when you dance,” said he, addressing the shoes, and
slapping the soles with his hand.
The old lady gave the soldier some money and then went with Karen into
the church.
And all the people inside looked at Karen’s red shoes, and all the figures
gazed at them; when Karen knelt before the altar and put the golden goblet
to her mouth, she thought only of the red shoes. It seemed to her as though
they were swimming about in the goblet, and she forgot to sing the psalm,
forgot to say the “Lord’s Prayer.”
Now every one came out of church, and the old lady stepped into her
carriage. But just as Karen was lifting up her foot to get in too, the old
soldier said: “Dear me, what pretty dancing shoes!” and Karen could not
help it, she was obliged to dance a few steps; and when she had once begun,
her legs continued to dance. It seemed as if the shoes had got power over
them. She danced round the church corner, for she could not stop; the
coachman had to run after her and seize her. He lifted her into the carriage,
but her feet continued to dance, so that she kicked the good old lady
violently. At last they took off her shoes, and her legs were at rest.
At home the shoes were put into the cupboard, but Karen could not help
looking at them.
Now the old lady fell ill, and it was said that she would not rise from her
bed again. She had to be nursed and waited upon, and this was no one’s
duty more than Karen’s. But there was a grand ball in the town, and Karen
was invited. She looked at the red shoes, saying to herself that there was no
