What is the matter, Hrafnhild? Are you ill? You are so
excited. Why are you so eager to tell me all this?
HADDA PADDA. Because I don't want you to think I am making any
sacrifice. You think so, but I am not.
INGOLF. I understand.
HADDA PADDA. No, you don't understand. There was still one place
where I was afraid to go, because it meant more to me than any
other. I grasped my heart with fear, and there I seemed to find
the place. It was the Angelica Gorge,--where you had put your life
in my hands. I was afraid that if I went there, I would instantly
lose the peace of mind I had gained. But if I could not bear that,
then this peace was nothing but an illusion. I wanted to be
sincere with myself--so I went up there last night.
INGOLF. We saw you walking up the mountain.
HADDA PADDA. I lay down on the edge of the cliff and looked down
into the depth from which I had seen you come up. "Little heart,"
I said, "try to be calm while I am tormenting you: Here it was
that he raised himself up on the rope _I_ held. Here it was that
he showed me how well he loved me." But instead of feeling pain,
my whole frame quivered with trembling joy.
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