Involuntarilyhestretchedhishandstowardsit，feltapangofgriefwhenitvanished，leavingonlythegreylight。Hedrewtherustybolts，flungopenthegreatdoor。Astrangeworldlaybeforehim，anewworldoflightsandshadows，thatwooedhimwiththeirbeauty——aworldoflow，softvoicesthatcalledtohim。Therecametohimagainthatbittersenseofhavingbeenrobbed。
　　"Icouldhavebeensohappyalltheseyears，"murmuredoldNicholastohimself。"ItisjustthelittletownIcouldhaveloved——soquaint，soquiet，sohomelike。Imighthavehadfriends，oldcronies，childrenofmyownmaybe——"
　　AvisionofthesleepingChristinaflashedbeforehiseyes。Shehadcometohimachild，feelingonlygratitudetowardshim。Hadhehadeyeswithwhichtoseeher，allthingsmighthavebeendifferent。
　　Wasittoolate？Heisnotsoold——notsoveryold。Newlifeisinhisveins。ShestilllovesJan，butthatwastheJanofyesterday。
　　Inthefuture，Jan’severywordanddeedwillbepromptedbytheevilsoulthatwasoncethesoulofNicholasSnyders——thatNicholasSnydersrememberswell。Cananywomanlovethat，letthecasebeashandsomeasyouwill？
　　Oughthe，asanhonestman，tokeepthesoulhehadwonfromJanbywhatmightbecalledatrick？Yes，ithadbeenafairbargain，andJanhadtakenhisprice。Besides，itwasnotasifJanhadfashionedhisownsoul;thesethingsarechance。Whyshouldonemanbegivengold，andanotherbegivenparchedpeas？HehasasmuchrighttoJan’ssoulasJaneverhad。Heiswiser，hecandomoregoodwithit。
　　ItwasJan’ssoulthatlovedChristina;letJan’ssoulwinherifitcan。AndJan’ssoul，listeningtotheargument，couldnotthinkofawordtoofferinopposition。
　　ChristinawasstillasleepwhenNicholasre—enteredthekitchen。Helightedthefireandcookedthebreakfastandthenarousedhergently。
　　TherewasnodoubtitwasChristina。ThemomenthereyesrestedonoldNicholas，therecamebacktoherthefrightenedrabbitlookthathadalwaysirritatedhim。Itirritatedhimnow，buttheirritationwasagainsthimself。
　　"YouweresleepingsosoundlywhenIcameinlastnight——"Christinacommenced。
　　"Andyouwereafraidtowakeme，"Nicholasinterruptedher。"Youthoughttheoldcurmudgeonwouldbecross。Listen，Christina。Youpaidoffyesterdaythelastdebtyourfatherowed。Itwastoanoldsailor——Ihadnotbeenabletofindhimbefore。Notacentmoredoyouowe，andthereremainstoyou，outofyourwages，ahundredflorins。Itisyourswheneveryouliketoaskmeforit。"
　　Christinacouldnotunderstand，neitherthennorduringthedaysthatfollowed;nordidNicholasenlightenher。ForthesoulofJanhadenteredintoaverywiseoldman，whoknewthatthebestwaytolivedownthepastistoliveboldlythepresent。AllthatChristinacouldbesureofwasthattheoldNicholasSnydershadmysteriouslyvanished，thatinhisplaceremainedanewNicholas，wholookedatherwithkindlyeyes——frankandhonest，compellingconfidence。ThoughNicholasneversaidso，itcametoChristinathatsheherself，hersweetexample，herennoblinginfluenceitwasthathadwroughtthiswondrouschange。AndtoChristinatheexplanationseemednotimpossible——seemedevenpleasing。
　　Thesightofhislittereddeskwashatefultohim。Startingearlyinthemorning，Nicholaswoulddisappearfortheentireday，returningintheeveningtiredbutcheerful，bringingwithhimflowersthatChristinalaughedat，tellinghimtheywereweeds。Butwhatmatterednames？ToNicholastheywerebeautiful。InZandamthechildrenranfromhim，thedogsbarkedafterhim。SoNicholas，escapingthroughbyways，wouldwanderfarintothecountry。Childreninthevillagesaroundcametoknowakindoldfellowwholovedtolinger，hishandsrestingonhisstaff，watchingtheirplay，listeningtotheirlaughter;whoseamplepocketswerestorehousesofgoodthings。Theirelders，passingby，wouldwhispertooneanotherhowlikehewasinfeaturestowickedoldNick，themiserofZandam，andwouldwonderwherehecamefrom。Norwasitonlythefacesofthechildrenthattaughthislipstosmile。Ittroubledhimatfirsttofindtheworldsofullofmarvellouslyprettygirls——ofprettywomenalso，allmoreorlesslovable。Itbewilderedhim。Untilhefoundthat，notwithstanding，Christinaremainedalwaysinhisthoughtstheprettiest，themostlovableofthemall。Theneveryprettyfacerejoicedhim:itremindedhimofChristina。
　　Onhisreturnthesecondday，Christinahadmethimwithsadnessinhereyes。FarmerBeerstraater，anoldfriendofherfather’s，hadcalledtoseeNicholas;notfindingNicholas，hadtalkedalittlewithChristina。Ahardheartedcreditorwasturninghimoutofhisfarm。
　　ChristinapretendednottoknowthatthecreditorwasNicholashimself，butmarvelledthatsuchwickedmencouldbe。Nicholassaidnothing，butthenextdayFarmerBeerstraaterhadcalledagain，allsmiles，blessings，andgreatwonder。
　　"Butwhatcanhavecometohim？"repeatedFarmerBeerstraateroverandover。
　　ChristinahadsmiledandansweredthatperhapsthegoodGodhadtouchedhisheart;butthoughttoherselfthatperhapsithadbeenthegoodinfluenceofanother。Thetaleflew。Christinafoundherselfbesiegedoneveryhand，and，findingherintercessionsinvariablysuccessful，grewdaybydaymorepleasedwithherself，andbyconsequencemorepleasedwithNicholasSnyders。ForNicholaswasacunningoldgentleman。Jan’ssoulinhimtookdelightinundoingtheevilthesoulofNicholashadwrought。ButthebrainofNicholasSnydersthatremainedtohimwhispered:"Letthelittlemaidthinkitisallherdoing。"
　　ThenewsreachedtheearsofDameToelast。ThesameeveningsawherseatedintheinglenookoppositeNicholasSnyders，whosmokedandseemedbored。
　　"Youaremakingafoolofyourself，NicholasSnyders，"theDametoldhim。"Everybodyislaughingatyou。"
　　"Ihadrathertheylaughedthancursedme，"growledNicholas。
　　"Haveyouforgottenallthathaspassedbetweenus？"demandedtheDame。
　　"WishIcould，"sighedNicholas。
　　"Atyourage——"commencedtheDame。
　　"IamfeelingyoungerthanIeverfeltinallmylife，"Nicholasinterruptedher。
　　"Youdon’tlookit，"commentedtheDame。
　　"Whatdolooksmatter？"snappedNicholas。"Itisthesoulofamanthatistherealman。"
　　"Theycountforsomething，astheworldgoes，"explainedtheDame。
　　"Why，ifIlikedtofollowyourexampleandmakeafoolofmyself，thereareyoungmen，fineyoungmen，handsomeyoungmen——"
　　"Don’tletmestandinyourway，"interposedNicholasquickly。"Asyousay，IamoldandIhaveadevilofatemper。TheremustbemanybettermenthanIam，menmoreworthyofyou。"
　　"Idon’tsaytherearenot，"returnedtheDame:"butnobodymoresuitable。Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。Ihaven’tlostmywits，NicholasSnyders，ifyouhave。Whenyouareyourselfagain——"
　　NicholasSnyderssprangtohisfeet。"Iammyself，"hecried，"andintendtoremainmyself！WhodaressayIamnotmyself？"
　　"Ido，"retortedtheDamewithexasperatingcoolness。"NicholasSnydersisnothimselfwhenatthebiddingofapretty—faceddollheflingshismoneyoutofthewindowwithbothhands。Heisacreaturebewitched，andIamsorryforhim。She’llfoolyouforthesakeofherfriendstillyouhaven’tacentleft，andthenshe’lllaughatyou。Whenyouareyourself，NicholasSnyders，youwillbecrazywithyourself——rememberthat。"AndDameToelastmarchedoutandslammedthedoorbehindher。
　　"Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。"Thephrasekeptringinginhisears。Hithertohisnew—foundhappinesshadfilledhislife，leavingnoroomforthought。ButtheoldDame’swordshadsowntheseedofreflection。
　　WasChristinafoolinghim？Thethoughtwasimpossible。Neveroncehadshepleadedforherself，neveronceforJan。TheevilthoughtwasthecreatureofDameToelast’sevilmind。Christinalovedhim。Herfacebrightenedathiscoming。Thefearofhimhadgoneoutofher;aprettytyrannyhadreplacedit。Butwasitthelovethathesought？
　　Jan’ssoulinoldNick’sbodywasyoungandardent。ItdesiredChristinanotasadaughter，butasawife。CoulditwinherinspiteofoldNick’sbody？ThesoulofJanwasanimpatientsoul。Bettertoknowthantodoubt。
　　"Donotlightthecandles;letustalkalittlebythelightofthefireonly，"saidNicholas。AndChristina，smiling，drewherchairtowardstheblaze。ButNicholassatintheshadow。
　　"Yougrowmorebeautifuleveryday，Christina，"saidNicholas——
　　"sweeterandmorewomanly。Hewillbeahappymanwhocallsyouwife。"
　　ThesmilepassedfromChristina’sface。"Ishallnevermarry，"sheanswered。"Neverisalongword，littleone。"
　　"Atruewomandoesnotmarrythemanshedoesnotlove。"
　　"Butmayshenotmarrythemanshedoes？"smiledNicholas。
　　"Sometimesshemaynot，"Christinaexplained。
　　"Andwhenisthat？"
　　Christina’sfacewasturnedaway。"Whenhehasceasedtoloveher。"
　　ThesoulinoldNick’sbodyleaptwithjoy。"Heisnotworthyofyou，Christina。Hisnewfortunehaschangedhim。Isitnotso？Hethinksonlyofmoney。Itisasthoughthesoulofamiserhadenteredintohim。HewouldmarryevenDameToelastforthesakeofhergold—bagsandherbroadlandsandhermanymills，ifonlyshewouldhavehim。
　　Cannotyouforgethim？"
　　"Ishallneverforgethim。Ishallneverloveanotherman。Itrytohideit;andoftenIamcontenttofindthereissomuchintheworldthatIcando。Butmyheartisbreaking。"Sheroseand，kneelingbesidehim，claspedherhandsaroundhim。"Iamgladyouhaveletmetellyou，"shesaid。"ButforyouIcouldnothaveborneit。Youaresogoodtome。"
　　Foranswerhestrokedwithhiswitheredhandthegoldenhairthatfelldisorderedabouthiswitheredknees。Sheraisedhereyestohim;theywerefilledwithtears，butsmiling。
　　"Icannotunderstand，"shesaid。"Ithinksometimesthatyouandhemusthavechangedsouls。Heishardandmeanandcruel，asyouusedtobe。"Shelaughed，andthearmsaroundhimtightenedforamoment。
　　"Andnowyouarekindandtenderandgreat，asoncehewas。ItisasifthegoodGodhadtakenawaymyloverfrommetogivetomeafather。"
　　"Listentome，Christina，"hesaid。"Itisthesoulthatistheman，notthebody。Couldyounotlovemeformynewsoul？"
　　"ButIdoloveyou，"answeredChristina，smilingthroughhertears。
　　"Couldyouasahusband？"Thefirelightfelluponherface。
　　Nicholas，holdingitbetweenhiswitheredhands，lookedintoitlongandhard;andreadingwhathereadthere，laiditbackagainsthisbreastandsootheditwithhiswitheredhand。
　　"Iwasjesting，littleone，"hesaid。"Girlsforboys，andoldwomenforoldmen。Andso，inspiteofall，youstillloveJan？"
　　"Ilovehim，"answeredChristina。"Icannothelpit。"
　　"Andifhewould，youwouldmarryhim，lethissoulbewhatitmay？"
　　"Ilovehim，"answeredChristina。"Icannothelpit。"
　　OldNicholassatalonebeforethedyingfire。Isitthesoulorthebodythatistherealman？Theanswerwasnotsosimpleashehadthoughtit。
　　"ChristinalovedJan"——soNicholasmumbledtothedyingfire——"whenhehadthesoulofJan。Sheloveshimstill，thoughhehasthesoulofNicholasSnyders。WhenIaskedherifshecouldloveme，itwasterrorIreadinhereyes，thoughJan’ssoulisnowinme;shedivinedit。ItmustbethebodythatistherealJan，therealNicholas。IfthesoulofChristinaenteredintothebodyofDameToelast，shouldI
　　turnfromChristina，fromhergoldenhair，herfathomlesseyes，heraskinglips，todesiretheshrivelledcarcassofDameToelast？No;I
　　shouldstillshudderatthethoughtofher。YetwhenIhadthesoulofNicholasSnyders，Ididnotloatheher，whileChristinawasnaughttome。Itmustbewiththesoulthatwelove，elseJanwouldstillloveChristinaandIshouldbeMiserNick。YethereamIlovingChristina，usingNicholasSnyders’brainandgoldtothwartNicholasSnyders’everyscheme，doingeverythingthatIknowwillmakehimmadwhenhecomesbackintohisownbody;whileJancaresnolongerforChristina，wouldmarryDameToelastforherbroadlands，hermanymills。Clearlyitisthesoulthatistherealman。ThenoughtInottobeglad，thinkingIamgoingbackintomyownbody，knowingthatI
　　shallwedChristina？ButIamnotglad;Iamverymiserable。IshallnotgowithJan’ssoul，Ifeelit;myownsoulwillcomebacktome。
　　Ishallbeagainthehard，cruel，meanoldmanIwasbefore，onlynowIshallbepoorandhelpless。Thefolkswilllaughatme，andIshallcursethem，powerlesstodothemevil。EvenDameToelastwillnotwantmewhenshelearnsall。AndyetImustdothisthing。SolongasJan’ssoulisinme，IloveChristinabetterthanmyself。Imustdothisforhersake。Iloveher——Icannothelpit。"
　　OldNicholasrose，tookfromtheplace，whereamonthbeforehehadhiddenit，thesilverflaskofcunningworkmanship。
　　"Justtwomoreglassfulsleft，"musedNicholas，ashegentlyshooktheflaskagainsthisear。Helaiditonthedeskbeforehim，thenopenedonceagaintheoldgreenledger，fortherestillremainedworktobedone。
　　HewokeChristinaearly。"Taketheseletters，Christina，"hecommanded。"Whenyouhavedeliveredthemall，butnotbefore，gotoJan;tellhimIamwaitingheretoseehimonamatterofbusiness。"
　　Hekissedherandseemedlothtolethergo。
　　"Ishallonlybealittlewhile，"smiledChristina。
　　"Allpartingstakebutalittlewhile，"heanswered。
　　OldNicholashadforeseenthetroublehewouldhave。Janwascontent，hadnodesiretobeagainasentimentalyoungfool，eagertosaddlehimselfwithapennilesswife。Janhadotherdreams。
　　"Drink，man，drink！"criedNicholasimpatiently，"beforeIamtemptedtochangemymind。Christina，providedyoumarryher，istherichestbrideinZandam。Thereisthedeed;readit;andreadquickly。"
　　ThenJanconsented，andthetwomendrank。Andtherepassedabreathbetweenthemasbefore;andJanwithhishandscoveredhiseyesamoment。
　　Itwasapity，perhaps，thathedidso，forinthatmomentNicholassnatchedatthedeedthatlaybesideJanonthedesk。Thenextinstantitwasblazinginthefire。
　　"Notsopoorasyouthought！"camethecroakingvoiceofNicholas。
　　"Notsopoorasyouthought！Icanbuildagain，Icanbuildagain！"
　　Andthecreature，laughinghideously，dancedwithitswitheredarmsspreadoutbeforetheblaze，lestJanshouldseektorescueChristina’sburningdowrybeforeitwasdestroyed。
　　JandidnottellChristina。InspiteofallJancouldsay，shewouldgoback。NicholasSnydersdroveherfromthedoorwithcurses。Shecouldnotunderstand。TheonlythingclearwasthatJanhadcomebacktoher。
　　"’Twasastrangemadnessthatseizeduponme，"Janexplained。"Letthegoodseabreezesbringushealth。"
　　SofromthedeckofJan’sshiptheywatchedoldZandamtillitvanishedintoair。
　　Christinacriedalittleatthethoughtofneverseeingitagain;butJancomfortedherandlaternewfaceshidtheold。
　　AndoldNicholasmarriedDameToelast，but，happily，livedtodoevilonlyforafewyearslonger。
　　Longafter，JantoldChristinathewholestory，butitsoundedveryimprobable，andChristina——though，ofcourse，shedidnotsayso——didnotquitebelieveit，butthoughtJanwastryingtoexplainawaythatstrangemonthofhislifeduringwhichhehadwooedDameToelast。YetitcertainlywasstrangethatNicholas，forthesameshortmonth，hadbeensodifferentfromhisusualself。
　　"Perhaps，"thoughtChristina，"ifIhadnottoldhimIlovedJan，hewouldnothavegonebacktohisoldways。Pooroldgentleman！Nodoubtitwasdespair。"