Page:Karl Gjellerup - Minna, A novel - 1913.djvu/205

 But as we were half-way up the lovely plane avenue which runs across the fields between the city and "Grosser Garten," it flashed into my mind that the rings which we had ordered were promised us without fail for this afternoon.

We at once agreed to go back, though it took us right into the quarter of the town from which we had come. It was not one of the larger goldsmiths, but a workshop on the second or third floor, of which Minna knew. The rings were ready, and the old woman who gave them to us bestowed them with many congratulations and blessings, to which she also added many regards to Minna's "mamma."

The distress, or rather despondency, which had taken possession of us since that unfortunate poem had been mentioned, gave way to the golden magic of the engagement rings. The weather had changed to the most beautiful sunshine, and we decided to enjoy it on the terrace near by.

The terrace was swarming with people, as is always the case at this hour in fine summer weather. We heard sounds of the concert in Wienergarten on the other side of the river; it was the finale of the Valkyrie, and we stood still and listened. Distance blotted out the defects in the execution. "The renunciation," during which Wotan kisses away the godlike power of Brynhilde, so that the long swooning sleep falls upon her, came clearly over to us in its melancholy rise and fall.

"I heard this very thing on the evening I decided to spend my holiday at Rathen," I said.

"A blessed evening it has been for me," answered Minna," though I at that time had no notion of it. It is strange to think how quite an unknown human being's