The sun was shining gloriously, so Karen and the old lady went along the
footpath through the corn, where it was rather dusty.
At the church door stood an old crippled soldier leaning on a crutch; he had a
wonderfully long beard, more red than white, and he bowed down to the ground
and asked the old lady whether he might wipe her shoes. Then Karen put out her
little foot too.
"Dear me, what pretty dancing-shoes!" said the soldier. "Sit
fast, when you dance," said he, addressing the shoes, and slapping the
soles with his hand.
The old lady gave the soldier some money and then went with Karen into the
church.
And all the people inside looked at Karen's red shoes, and all the figures
gazed at them; when Karen knelt before the altar and put the golden goblet to
her mouth, she thought only of the red shoes. It seemed to her as though they
were swimming about in the goblet, and she forgot to sing the psalm, forgot to
say the "Lord's Prayer."
Now every one came out of church, and the old lady stepped into her carriage.
But just as Karen was lifting up her foot to get in too, the old soldier said:
"Dear me, what pretty dancing shoes!" and Karen could not help it,
she was obliged to dance a few steps; and when she had once begun, her legs
continued to dance. It seemed as if the shoes had got power over them. She
danced round the church corner, for she could not stop; the coachman had to run
after her and seize her. He lifted her into the carriage, but her feet
continued to dance, so that she kicked the good old lady violently. At last
they took off her shoes, and her legs were at rest.
At home the shoes were put into the cupboard, but Karen could not help looking
at them.
Now the old lady fell ill, and it was said that she would not rise from her bed
again. She had to be nursed and waited upon, and this was no one's duty more
than Karen's. But there was a grand ball in the town, and Karen was invited.
She looked at the red shoes, saying to herself that there was no sin in doing
that; she put the red shoes on, thinking there was no harm in that either; and
then she went to the ball; and commenced to dance.
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