and so they parted.
On the way home, Ib told the boatman that he and Christina were as good
as engaged to each other; and the boatman found out that he had always
expected it would be so, and went home with Ib that evening, and remained
the night in the farmhouse; but nothing further was said of the engagement.
During the next year, two letters passed between Ib and Christina. They
were signed, “Faithful till death;” but at the end of that time, one day the
boatman came over to see Ib, with a kind greeting from Christina. He had
something else to say, which made him hesitate in a strange manner. At last
it came out that Christina, who had grown a very pretty girl, was more
lucky than ever. She was courted and admired by every one; but her
master’s son, who had been home on a visit, was so much pleased with
Christina that he wished to marry her. He had a very good situation in an
office at Copenhagen, and as she had also taken a liking for him, his parents
were not unwilling to consent. But Christina, in her heart, often thought of
Ib, and knew how much he thought of her; so she felt inclined to refuse this
good fortune, added the boatman. At first Ib said not a word, but he became
as white as the wall, and shook his head gently, and then he
spoke,-”Christina must not refuse this good fortune.”
“Then will you write a few words to her?” said the boatman.
Ib sat down to write, but he could not get on at all. The words were not
what he wished to say, so he tore up the page. The following morning,
however, a letter lay ready to be sent to Christina, and the following is what
he wrote:-
“The letter written by you to your father I have read, and see from it that
you are prosperous in everything, and that still better fortune is in store for
you. Ask your own heart, Christina, and think over carefully what awaits
you if you take me for your husband, for I possess very little in the world.
Do not think of me or of my position; think only of your own welfare. You
are bound to me by no promises; and if in your heart you have given me
one, I release you from it. May every blessing and happiness be poured out
upon you, Christina. Heaven will give me the heart’s consolation.
