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inhis life； to a theatre。 And what did he see？ He saw Joanna； and howbeautiful and charming she looked！ He certainly saw her beingmarried to a stranger； but that was all in the play； and only apretence； Knud well knew that。 She could never have the heart； hethought； to send him a ticket to go and see it； if it had been real。So he looked on； and when all the people applauded and clapped theirhands； he shouted 〃hurrah。〃 He could see that even the king smiledat Joanna； and seemed delighted with her singing。 How small Knud felt；but then he loved her so dearly； and thought she loved him； and theman must speak the first word； as the gingerbread maiden hadthought。 Ah； how much there was for him in that childish story。 Assoon as Sunday arrived； he went again； and felt as if he were about toenter on holy ground。 Joanna was alone to wele him； nothing couldbe more fortunate。
〃I am so glad you are e；〃 she said。 I was thinking of sendingmy father for you； but I had a presentiment that you would be herethis evening。 The fact is； I wanted to tell you that I am going toFrance。 I shall start on Friday。 It is necessary for me to go there；if I wish to bee a first…rate performer。〃
Poor Knud！ it seemed to him as if the whole room was whirlinground with him。 His courage failed； and he felt as if his heartwould burst。 He kept down the tears； but it was easy to see howsorrowful he was。
〃You honest； faithful soul；〃 she exclaimed； and the words loosenedKnud's tongue； and he told her how truly he had loved her； and thatshe 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 andmournfully； 〃Knud； do not make yourself and me unhappy。 I willalways be a good sister to you； one in whom you can trust； but I cannever be anything more。〃 And she drew her white hand over hisburning forehead； and said； 〃God gives strength to bear a greatdeal； if we only strive ourselves to endure。〃
At this moment her stepmother came into the room； and Joannasaid quickly； 〃Knud is so unhappy； because I am going away；〃 and itappeared as if they had only been talking of her journey。 〃e； bea man〃 she added； placing her hand on his shoulder； 〃you are still achild； and you must be good and reasonable； as you were when we wereboth children； and played together under the willow…tree。〃
Knud listened； but he felt as if the world had slid out of itscourse。 His thoughts were like a loose thread fluttering to and fro inthe wind。 He stayed； although he could not tell whether she hadasked him to do so。 But she was kind and gentle to him； she poured outhis 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 readyto burst。 And then he rose to go。 He did not offer his hand； but sheseized it； and said…
〃Will you not shake hands with your sister at parting； my oldplayfellow？〃 and she smiled through the tears that were rolling downher cheeks。 Again she repeated the word 〃brother；〃 which was a greatconsolation certainly； and thus they parted。
She sailed to France； and Knud wandered about the muddy streets ofCopenhagen。 The other journeymen in the shop asked him why he lookedso gloomy； and wanted him to go and amuse himself with them； as he wasstill a young man。 So he went with them to a dancing…room。 He saw manyhandsome girls there； but none like Joanna； and here； where he thoughtto 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；〃 shehad said； and as he thought of this； a devout feeling came into hismind； and he folded his hands。 Then； as the violins played and thegirls danced round the room； he started； for it seemed to him as if hewere in a place where he ought not to have brought Joanna； for she washere with him in his heart； and so he went out at once。 As he wentthrough the streets at a quick pace； he passed the house where sheused to live； it was all dark； empty； and lonely。 But the world wenton its course； and Knud was obliged to go on too。
Winter came； the water was frozen； and everything seemed buried ina cold grave。 But when spring returned； and the first steamer preparedto sail； Knud was seized with a longing to wander forth into theworld； but not to France。 So he packed his knapsack； and travelledthrough Germany； going from town to town； but finding neither restor peace。 It was not till he arrived at the glorious old town ofNuremberg that he gained the mastery over himself； and rested hisweary feet； and here he remained。
Nuremberg is a wonderful old city； and looks as if it had been cutout of an old picture…book。 The streets seem to have arrangedthemselves according to their own fancy； and as if the houses objectedto 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 likedragons； or long lean dogs； extend far across to the middle of thestreet。 Here； in the market…place； stood Knud； with his knapsack onhis back； close to one of the old fountains which are so beautifullyadorned with figures； scriptural and historical； and which spring upbetween the sparkling jets of water。 A pretty servant…maid was justfilling her pails； and she gave Knud a refreshing draught； she had ahandful of roses； and she gave him one； which appeared to him like agood omen for the future。 From a neighboring church came the sounds ofmusic； and the familiar tones reminded him of the organ at home atKjoge； so he passed into the great cathedral。 The sunshine streamedthrough the painted glass windows； and between two lofty slenderpillars。 His thoughts became prayerful； and calm peace rested on hissoul。 He next sought and found a good master in Nuremberg； with whomhe stayed and learnt the German language。
The old moat round the town had been converted into a number oflittle kitchen gardens； but the high walls； with their heavy…lookingtowers； are still standing。 Inside these walls the ropemaker twistedhis ropes along a walk built like a gallery； and in the cracks andcrevices of the walls elderbushes grow and stretch their greenboughs over the small houses which stand below。 In one of these houseslived the master for whom Knud worked； and over the little garretwindow where he sat； the elder…tree waved its branches。 Here hedwelt through one summer and winter； but when spring came again； hecould endure it no longer。 The elder was in blossom； and its fragrancewas so homelike； that he fancied himself back again in the gardensof Kjoge。 So Knud left his master； and went to work for another wholived farther in the town； where no elder grew。 His workshop was quiteclose to one of the old stone bridges； near to a water…mill； roundwhich the roaring stream rushed and foamed always； yet restrained bythe neighboring houses； whose old； decayed balconies hung over； andseemed ready to fall into the water。 Here grew no elder； here wasnot even a flower…pot； with its little green plant； but justopposite the workshop stood a great willow…tree； which seemed tohold fast to the house for fear of being carried away by the water。 Itstretched its branches over the stream just as those of thewillow…tree in the garden at Kjoge had spread over the river。 Yes；he had indeed gone from elder…mother to willow…father。 There was asomething about the tree here； especially in the moonlight nights；that went direct to his heart； yet it was not in reality themoonlight； but the old tree itself。 However； he could not endure it：and why？ Ask the willow； ask the blossoming elder！ At all events； hebade farewell to Nuremberg and journeyed onwards。 He never spoke ofJoanna to any one； his sorrow was hidden in his heart。 The oldchildish story of the two cakes had a deep meaning for him。 Heunderstood now why the gingerbread man had a bitter almond in his leftside； his was the feeling of bitterness； and Joanna； so mild andfriendly； was represented by the honeycake maiden。 As he thoughtupon all this； the strap of his knapsack pressed across his chest sothat he could hardly breathe； he loosened it； but gained no relief。 Hesaw but half the world around him； the other half he carried withhim in his inward thoughts； and