One day， in the following spring， there came a knock at the door of the house where Ib'sold mother lived; and when they opened it， lo and behold， in stepped the boatman andChristina. She had come to pay them a visit， and to spend the day. A carriage had to comefrom the Herning hotel to the next village， and she had taken the opportunity to see herfriends once more. She looked as elegant as a real lady， and wore a pretty dress， beautifullymade on purpose for her. There she stood， in full dress， while Ib wore only his workingclothes. He could not utter a word; he could only seize her hand and hold it fast in his own，but he felt too happy and glad to open his lips. Christina， however， was quite at her ease;she talked and talked， and kissed him in the most friendly manner. Even afterwards， whenthey were left alone， and she asked， “Did you know me again， Ib?” he still stood holding herhand， and said at last， “You are become quite a grand lady， Christina， and I am only arough working man; but I have often thought of you and of old times.” Then they wanderedup the GREat ridge， and looked across the stream to the heath， where the little hills werecovered with the flowering broom. Ib said nothing; but before the time came for them topart， it became quite clear to him that Christina must be his wife： had they not even inchildhood been called the betrothed? To him it seemed as if they were really engaged to eachother， although not a word had been spoken on the subject. They had only a few more hoursto remain together， for Christina was obliged to return that evening to the neighboringvillage， to be ready for the carriage which was to start the next morning early for Herning. Iband her father accompanied her to the village. It was a fine moonlight evening; and when theyarrived， Ib stood holding Christina's hand in his， as if he could not let her go. His eyesbrightened， and the words he uttered came with hesitation from his lips， but from thedeepest recesses of his heart： “Christina， if you have not become too grand， and if you canbe contented to live in my mother's house as my wife， we will be married some day. But wecan wait for a while.”
“Oh yes，” she replied; “Let us wait a little longer， Ib. I can trust you， for I believe that Ido love you. But let me think it over.” then he kissed her lips; and so they parted.
On the way home， Ib told the boatman that he and Christina were as good as engaged toeach other; and the boatman found out that he had always expected it would be so， andwent home with Ib that evening， and remained the night in the farmhouse; but nothingfurther was said of the engagement. During the next year， two letters passed between Iband Christina. They were signed， “Faithful till death;” but at the end of that time， one daythe boatman came over to see Ib， with a kind GREeting from Christina. He had something elseto say， which made him hesitate in a strange manner. At last it came out that Christina， whohad grown a very pretty girl， was more lucky than ever. She was courted and admired by everyone; but her master's son， who had been home on a visit， was so much pleased withChristina that he wished to marry her. He had a very good situation in an office atCopenhagen， and as she had also taken a liking for him， his parents were not unwilling toconsent. But Christina， in her heart， often thought of Ib， and knew how much he thoughtof her; so she felt inclined to refuse this good fortune， added the boatman. At first Ib saidnot a word， but he became as white as the wall， and shook his head gently， and then hespoke，—“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 tosay， so he tore up the page. The following morning， however， a letter lay ready to be sentto 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 areprosperous in everything， and that still better fortune is in store for you. Ask your ownheart， 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 yourown welfare. You are bound to me by no promises; and if in your heart you have given meone， I release you from it. May every blessing and happiness be poured out upon you，Christina. Heaven will give me the heart's consolation.
离古德诺河1不远，在西尔克堡森林里面，有一个土丘从地面上凸出来了，像一个球。人们管它叫“背脊”。在这高地下面朝西一点有一间小小的农舍，它的周围全是贫瘠的土地;在那稀疏的燕麦和小麦中间，隐隐地现出了沙子。
1古德诺(Gudena)河是丹麦最长的一条河，全长300多里。
现在许多年已经过去了。住在这儿的人耕种着他们的一点儿田地，还养了三头羊、一头猪和两头公牛。简单地说，只要他们满足於自己所有的东西，他们的食物可以说够吃了。的确，他们还可以节省点钱买两匹马;可是，像附近一带别的农人一样，他们说，“马儿把自己吃光了”——它们能生产多少，就吃掉多少。
耶布·演斯在夏天耕他的那点地。在冬天他就成了一个能干的做木鞋的人。他还有一个助手——一个年轻人，这人知道怎样把木鞋做得结实、轻巧和漂亮。他们雕出木鞋和杓子，而这些东西都能赚钱。所以人们不能把耶布·演斯这一家人叫做穷人。
小小的依卜是一个七岁的男孩子，是这家的独生子。他常常坐在旁边，看别人削着木头，也削着自己的木头。不过有一天他刻好了两块木头，刻得像一双小木鞋的样子。他说要把它们送给小克丽斯玎。她是一个船夫的小女儿，长得很秀气和娇嫩，像一位绅士的孩子。如果她的衣服配得上她的样子，那么谁也不会以为她就是塞歇得荒地上茅屋里的一个孩子。她的父亲住在那儿。他的妻子已经死了。他生活的来源是靠用他的大船装运柴火，从森林里运到西尔克堡的鳝鱼堰，有时也从这儿运到较远的兰得尔斯。没有甚么人来照料比依卜只小一岁的克丽斯玎，因此这孩子就老是跟他一起在船里，在荒地上，或在伏牛花灌木丛里玩耍。当他要到像兰得尔斯那么远的地方去的时候，小小的克丽斯玎就到耶布·演斯家里去。