Page:Fairy tales from Hans Christian Andersen (Walker).djvu/143

Rh thick red walls," says the wind. "I know every stone of it. I knew them before when they formed part of Marsk Stig's Castle on the Ness; it had to come down. The stones were used again, and made a new wall of a new castle in another place, Borreby Hall as it now stands.

"I have watched the high-born men and women of all the various races who have lived there, and now I am going to tell you about Waldemar Daa and his daughters!

"He held his head very high, for he came of a royal stock! He knew more than the mere chasing of a stag, or the emptying of a flagon; he knew how to manage his affairs, he said himself.

"His lady wife walked proudly across the brightly polished floors, in her gold brocaded kirtle; the tapestries in the rooms were gorgeous, and the furniture of costly carved woods. She had brought much gold and silver plate into the house with her, and the cellars were full of German ale, when there was anything there at all. Fiery black horses neighed in the stables; Borreby Hall was a very rich place when wealth came there.

"Then there were the children, three dainty maidens, Ida, Johanna, and Anna Dorothea. I remember their names well.

"They were rich and aristocratic people and they were born and bred in wealth! Whew! whew! fare away!" roared the wind, then he went on with his story.

"I did not see here, as in other old noble castles, the highborn lady sitting among her maidens in the great hall turning the spinning wheel. No, she played upon the ringing lute, and sang to its tones. Her songs were not always the old Danish ditties, however, but songs in foreign tongues. All was life and hospitality; noble guests came from far and wide; there were sounds of music and the clanging of flagons so loud that I could not drown them!" said the wind. "Here were arrogance and ostentation enough and to spare; plenty of lords, but the Lord had no place there.

"Then came the evening of May-day!" said the wind.