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had only been a kind of twilight all day； and it soongrew quite dark； and so bitterly cold； that the skipper took a dram towarm him。 The bottle was old； and the glass too。 It was perfect in theupper part； but the foot was broken off； and it had therefore beenfixed upon a little carved block of wood； painted blue。 A dram is agreat fort； and two are better still； thought the skipper； whilethe boy sat at the helm； which he held fast in his hard seamedhands。 He was ugly； and his hair was matted； and he looked crippledand stunted； they called him the field…laborer's boy； though in thechurch register he was entered as Anne Lisbeth's son。 The wind cutthrough the rigging； and the boat cut through the sea。 The sails；filled by the wind； swelled out and carried them along in wild career。It was wet and rough above and below； and might still be worse。Hold！ what is that？ What has struck the boat？ Was it a waterspout；or a heavy sea rolling suddenly upon them？
〃Heaven help us！〃 cried the boy at the helm； as the boat heeledover and lay on its beam ends。 It had struck on a rock； which rosefrom the depths of the sea； and sank at once； like an old shoe in apuddle。 〃It sank at once with mouse and man；〃 as the saying is。There might have been mice on board； but only one man and a half；the skipper and the laborer's boy。 No one saw it but the skimmingsea…gulls and the fishes beneath the water； and even they did notsee it properly； for they darted back with terror as the boat filledwith water and sank。 There it lay； scarcely a fathom below thesurface； and those two were provided for； buried； and forgotten。 Theglass with the foot of blue wood was the only thing that did not sink；for the wood floated and the glass drifted away to be cast upon theshore and broken； where and when； is indeed of no consequence。 Ithad served its purpose； and it had been loved； which Anne Lisbeth'sboy had not been。 But in heaven no soul will be able to say； 〃Neverloved。〃
Anne Lisbeth had now lived in the town many years； she wascalled 〃Madame；〃 and felt dignified in consequence； she remembered theold； noble days； in which she had driven in the carriage； and hadassociated with countess and baroness。 Her beautiful； noble childhad been a dear angel； and possessed the kindest heart； he had lovedher so much； and she had loved him in return； they had kissed andloved each other； and the boy had been her joy； her second life。 Nowhe was fourteen years of age； tall； handsome； and clever。 She hadnot seen him since she carried him in her arms； neither had she beenfor years to the count's palace； it was quite a journey thither fromthe town。
〃I must make one effort to go；〃 said Anne Lisbeth； 〃to see mydarling； the count's sweet child； and press him to my heart。 Certainlyhe must long to see me； too； the young count； no doubt he thinks of meand loves me； as in those days when he would fling his angel…armsround my neck； and lisp 'Anne Liz。' It was music to my ears。 Yes； Imust make an effort to see him again。〃 She drove across the country ina grazier's cart； and then got out； and continued her journey on foot；and thus reached the count's castle。 It was as great and magnificentas it had always been； and the garden looked the same as ever； all theservants were strangers to her； not one of them knew Anne Lisbeth； norof what consequence she had once been there； but she felt sure thecountess would soon let them know it； and her darling boy； too： howshe longed to see him！
Now that Anne Lisbeth was at her journey's end； she was keptwaiting a long time； and for those who wait； time passes slowly。 Butbefore the great people went in to dinner； she was called in andspoken to very graciously。 She was to go in again after dinner； andthen she would see her sweet boy once more。 How tall； and slender； andthin he had grown； but the eyes and the sweet angel mouth were stillbeautiful。 He looked at her； but he did not speak； he certainly didnot know who she was。 He turned round and was going away； but sheseized his hand and pressed it to her lips。
〃Well； well；〃 he said； and with that he walked out of the room。 Hewho filled her every thought！ he whom she loved best； and who washer whole earthly pride！
Anne Lisbeth went forth from the castle into the public road；feeling mournful and sad； he whom she had nursed day and night； andeven now carried about in her dreams； had been cold and strange； andhad not a word or thought respecting her。 A great black raven darteddown in front of her on the high road； and croaked dismally。
〃Ah；〃 said she； 〃what bird of ill omen art thou？〃 Presently shepassed the laborer's hut； his wife stood at the door； and the twowomen spoke to each other。
〃You look well；〃 said the woman； 〃you're fat and plump； you arewell off。〃
〃Oh yes；〃 answered Anne Lisbeth。
〃The boat went down with them；〃 continued the woman； 〃Hans theskipper and the boy were both drowned； so there's an end of them。 Ialways thought the boy would be able to help me with a few dollars。He'll never cost you anything more； Anne Lisbeth。〃
〃So they were drowned；〃 repeated Anne Lisbeth； but she said nomore； and the subject was dropped。 She felt very low…spirited； becauseher count…child had shown no inclination to speak to her who loved himso well； and who had travelled so far to see him。 The journey had costmoney too； and she had derived no great pleasure from it。 Still shesaid not a word of all this； she could not relieve her heart bytelling the laborer's wife； lest the latter should think she did notenjoy her former position at the castle。 Then the raven flew over her；screaming again as he flew。
〃The black wretch！〃 said Anne Lisbeth； 〃he will end by frighteningme today。〃 She had brought coffee and chicory with her； for shethought it would be a charity to the poor woman to give them to her toboil a cup of coffee； and then she would take a cup herself。
The woman prepared the coffee； and in the meantime Anne Lisbethseated her in a chair and fell asleep。 Then she dreamed of somethingwhich she had never dreamed before； singularly enough she dreamed ofher own child； who had wept and hungered in the laborer's hut； and hadbeen knocked about in heat and in cold； and who was now lying in thedepths of the sea； in a spot only known by God。 She fancied she wasstill sitting in the hut； where the woman was busy preparing thecoffee； for she could smell the coffee…berries roasting。 Butsuddenly it seemed to her that there stood on the threshold abeautiful young form； as beautiful as the count's child； and thisapparition said to her； 〃The world is passing away； hold fast to me；for you are my mother after all； you have an angel in heaven； holdme fast；〃 and the child…angel stretched out his hand and seized her。Then there was a terrible crash； as of a world crumbling to pieces；and the angel…child was rising from the earth； and holding her bythe sleeve so tightly that she felt herself lifted from the ground；but； on the other hand； something heavy hung to her feet and draggedher down； and it seemed as if hundreds of women were clinging toher； and crying； 〃If thou art to be saved； we must be saved too。Hold fast； hold fast。〃 And then they all hung on her； but there weretoo many； and as they clung the sleeve was torn； and Anne Lisbeth felldown in horror； and awoke。 Indeed she was on the point of falling overin reality with the chair on which she sat； but she was so startledand alarmed that she could not remember what she had dreamed； onlythat it was something very dreadful。
They drank their coffee and had a chat together； and then AnneLisbeth went away towards the little town where she was to meet thecarrier； who was to drive her back to her own home。 But when shecame to him she found that he would not be ready to start till theevening of the next day。 Then she began to think of the expense； andwhat the distance would be to walk。 She remembered that the route bythe sea…shore was two miles shorter than by the high road； and asthe weather was clear； and there would be moonlight； she determined tomake her way on foot； and to start at once； that she might reachhome the next day。
The sun had set； and the evening bells sounded through the airfrom the tower of the village church； but to her it was not the bells；but the cry of the f