Ever your sincere friend, IB.”
This letter was sent, and Christina received it in due time. In the course of
the following November, her banns were published in the church on the
heath, and also in Copenhagen, where the bridegroom lived. She was taken
to Copenhagen under the protection of her future mother-in-law, because
the bridegroom could not spare time from his numerous occupations for a
journey so far into Jutland. On the journey, Christina met her father at one
of the villages through which they passed, and here he took leave of her.
Very little was said about the matter to Ib, and he did not refer to it; his
mother, however, noticed that he had grown very silent and pensive.
Thinking as he did of old times, no wonder the three nuts came into his
mind which the gypsy woman had given him when a child, and of the two
which he had given to Christina. These wishing nuts, after all, had proved
true fortune-tellers. One had contained a gilded carriage and noble horses,
and the other beautiful clothes; all of these Christina would now have in her
new home at Copenhagen. Her part had come true. And for him the nut had
contained only black earth. The gypsy woman had said it was the best for
him. Perhaps it was, and this also would be fulfilled. He understood the
gypsy woman’s meaning now. The black earth-the dark grave-was the best
thing for him now.
Again years passed away; not many, but they seemed long years to Ib.
The old innkeeper and his wife died one after the other; and the whole of
their property, many thousand dollars, was inherited by their son. Christina
could have the golden carriage now, and plenty of fine clothes. During the
two long years which followed, no letter came from Christina to her father;
and when at last her father received one from her, it did not speak of
prosperity or happiness. Poor Christina! Neither she nor her husband
understood how to economize or save, and the riches brought no blessing
with them, because they had not asked for it.
Years passed; and for many summers the heath was covered with bloom;
in winter the snow rested upon it, and the rough winds blew across the ridge
under which stood Ib’s sheltered home. One spring day the sun shone
