Chapter 7

A Woman's Courage

8 min

Thus ended this memorable seance. That conversation threw me into a fever. I came out of my uncle's study as if I had been stunned, and as if there was not air enough in all the streets of Hamburg to put me right again. I therefore made for the banks of the Elbe, where the steamer lands her passengers, which forms the communication between the city and the Hamburg railway.

That was how the memorable meeting ended. The conversation left me in a fever. I came out of my uncle's study feeling stunned. It seemed as if all the air in the streets of Hamburg could not restore me. So I headed for the banks of the Elbe, where the steamer lands its passengers. The steamer connects the city with the Hamburg railway.

Was I convinced of the truth of what I had heard? Had I not bent under the iron rule of the Professor Liedenbrock? Was I to believe him in earnest in his intention to penetrate to the centre of this massive globe? Had I been listening to the mad speculations of a lunatic, or to the scientific conclusions of a lofty genius? Where did truth stop? Where did error begin?

Was I convinced that what I had heard was true? Had I not submitted to Professor Liedenbrock's iron rule? Was he serious about intending to reach the center of this massive globe? Had I been listening to the wild theories of a madman, or the scientific conclusions of a great genius? Where did truth end? Where did error begin?

I was all adrift amongst a thousand contradictory hypotheses, but I could not lay hold of one.

I was lost among a thousand conflicting theories, but I couldn't settle on one.

Yet I remembered that I had been convinced, although now my enthusiasm was beginning to cool down; but I felt a desire to start at once, and not to lose time and courage by calm reflection. I had at that moment quite courage enough to strap my knapsack to my shoulders and start.

Yet I remembered that I had been convinced, though my enthusiasm was beginning to fade. But I wanted to start at once, before calm reflection cost me time and courage. At that moment, I had enough courage to strap on my knapsack and set off.

But I must confess that in another hour this unnatural excitement abated, my nerves became unstrung, and from the depths of the abysses of this earth I ascended to its surface again.

But I must admit that another hour later, this unnatural excitement faded. My nerves gave way, and I rose from the depths of the earth back to its surface.

"It is quite absurd!" I cried, "there is no sense about it. No sensible young man should for a moment entertain such a proposal. The whole thing is non-existent. I have had a bad night, I have been dreaming of horrors."

"It's ridiculous!" I cried. "It makes no sense. No sensible young man should even consider such a proposal. None of it is real. I had a bad night. I was dreaming of horrors."

But I had followed the banks of the Elbe and passed the town. After passing the port too, I had reached the Altona road. I was led by a presentiment, soon to be realised; for shortly I espied my little Gräuben bravely returning with her light step to Hamburg.

But I had followed the banks of the Elbe past the town and the port. Then I reached the Altona road. I was guided by a feeling that soon proved right. Before long, I spotted my little Gräuben bravely returning to Hamburg with her light step.

"Gräuben!" I cried from afar off.

"Gräuben!" I called from a distance.

The young girl stopped, rather frightened perhaps to hear her name called after her on the high road. Ten yards more, and I had joined her.

The young girl stopped, perhaps a little frightened to hear someone call her name from behind on the road. After ten more yards, I caught up with her.

"Axel!" she cried surprised. "What! have you come to meet me? Is this why you are here, sir?"

"Axel!" she cried in surprise. "What! Did you come to meet me? Is that why you're here, sir?"

But when she had looked upon me, Gräuben could not fail to see the uneasiness and distress of my mind.

But when Gräuben looked at me, she could not help seeing how uneasy and distressed I was.

"What is the matter?" she said, holding out her hand.

"What's wrong?" she said, holding out her hand.

"What is the matter, Gräuben?" I cried.

"What's wrong, Gräuben?" I cried.

In a couple of minutes my pretty Virlandaise was fully informed of the position of affairs. For a time she was silent. Did her heart palpitate as mine did? I don't know about that, but I know that her hand did not tremble in mine. We went on a hundred yards without speaking.

Within a couple of minutes, my pretty Virlandaise knew all about the situation. She was silent for a while. Was her heart racing like mine? I don't know, but I do know that her hand did not tremble in mine. We walked another hundred yards without speaking.

At last she said, "Axel!"

Finally she said, "Axel!"

"My dear Gräuben."

"That will be a splendid journey!"

"That will be a wonderful journey!"

I gave a bound at these words.

I jumped at these words.

"Yes, Axel, a journey worthy of the nephew of a savant; it is a good thing for a man to be distinguished by some great enterprise."

"Yes, Axel, a journey worthy of a scholar's nephew. It is good for a man to be known for some great undertaking."

"What, Gräuben, won't you dissuade me from such an undertaking?"

"What, Gräuben, won't you try to talk me out of doing this?"

"No, my dear Axel, and I would willingly go with you, but that a poor girl would only be in your way."

"No, my dear Axel. I would gladly go with you, but a poor girl would only get in your way."

"Is that quite true?"

"Is that really true?"

"It is true."

"It's true."

Ah! women and young girls, how incomprehensible are your feminine hearts! When you are not the timidest, you are the bravest of creatures. Reason has nothing to do with your actions. What! did this child encourage me in such an expedition! Would she not be afraid to join it herself? And she was driving me to it, one whom she loved!

Ah, women and girls, how impossible your hearts are to understand! When you are not the most timid creatures, you are the bravest. Reason has nothing to do with your actions. What! This child was encouraging me to go on such an expedition! Wouldn't she be afraid to go herself? Yet she was urging me to go, even though she loved me!

I was disconcerted, and, if I must tell the whole truth, I was ashamed.

I was unsettled and, to tell the whole truth, ashamed.

"Gräuben, we will see whether you will say the same thing to-morrow."

"Gräuben, we'll see if you say the same thing tomorrow."

"To-morrow, dear Axel, I will say what I say to-day."

"Tomorrow, dear Axel, I will say the same thing I say today."

Gräuben and I, hand in hand, but in silence, pursued our way. The emotions of that day were breaking my heart.

Gräuben and I walked on hand in hand, but neither of us spoke. The emotions of the day were breaking my heart.

After all, I thought, the kalends of July are a long way off, and between this and then many things may take place which will cure my uncle of his desire to travel underground.

After all, I thought, the first of July is a long way off. Many things may happen before then that will cure my uncle of his desire to travel underground.

It was night when we arrived at the house in Königstrasse. I expected to find all quiet there, my uncle in bed as was his custom, and Martha giving her last touches with the feather brush.

It was night when we arrived at the house in Königstrasse. I expected everything to be quiet. My uncle would be in bed, as usual, and Martha would be finishing her dusting with a feather brush.

But I had not taken into account the Professor's impatience. I found him shouting—and working himself up amidst a crowd of porters and messengers who were all depositing various loads in the passage. Our old servant was at her wits' end.

But I hadn't counted on the Professor's impatience. I found him shouting and getting more and more worked up. A crowd of porters and messengers surrounded him, all leaving various loads in the hallway. Our old servant was at her wits' end.

"Come, Axel, come, you miserable wretch," my uncle cried from as far off as he could see me. "Your boxes are not packed, and my papers are not arranged; where's the key of my carpet bag? and what have you done with my gaiters?"

"Come on, Axel, you miserable wretch," my uncle shouted as soon as he could see me. "Your boxes aren't packed, and my papers aren't in order. Where's the key to my travel bag? And what have you done with my gaiters?"

I stood thunderstruck. My voice failed. Scarcely could my lips utter the words:

I stood there stunned. My voice failed me. I could barely get the words out:

"Are we really going?"

"Of course, you unhappy boy! Could I have dreamed that you would have gone out for a walk instead of hurrying your preparations forward?"

"Of course, you miserable boy! How could I have imagined you would go for a walk instead of hurrying with your preparations?"

"Are we to go?" I asked again, with sinking hopes.

"Are we going?" I asked again, losing hope.

"Yes; the day after to-morrow, early."

"Yes, early the day after tomorrow."

I could hear no more. I fled for refuge into my own little room.

I couldn't listen anymore. I fled to the safety of my little room.

All hope was now at an end. My uncle had been all the morning making purchases of a part of the tools and apparatus required for this desperate undertaking. The passage was encumbered with rope ladders, knotted cords, torches, flasks, grappling irons, alpenstocks, pickaxes, iron shod sticks, enough to load ten men.

All hope was gone. My uncle had spent the whole morning buying some of the tools and equipment needed for this desperate undertaking. The hallway was cluttered with rope ladders, knotted ropes, torches, flasks, grappling irons, climbing staffs, pickaxes, and iron-tipped sticks. There was enough to load down ten men.

I spent an awful night. Next morning I was called early. I had quite decided I would not open the door. But how was I to resist the sweet voice which was always music to my ears, saying, "My dear Axel?"

I had an awful night. The next morning, someone called me early. I had firmly decided not to open the door. But how could I resist that sweet voice, always music to my ears, saying, "My dear Axel?"

I came out of my room. I thought my pale countenance and my red and sleepless eyes would work upon Gräuben's sympathies and change her mind.

I came out of my room. I thought my pale face and red, sleepless eyes would stir Gräuben's sympathy and change her mind.

"Ah! my dear Axel," she said. "I see you are better. A night's rest has done you good."

"Oh, my dear Axel," she said. "I can see you're feeling better. A night's rest has done you good."

"Done me good!" I exclaimed.

I rushed to the glass. Well, in fact I did look better than I had expected. I could hardly believe my own eyes.

I rushed to the mirror. Well, I did look better than I had expected. I could hardly believe my own eyes.

"Axel," she said, "I have had a long talk with my guardian. He is a bold philosopher, a man of immense courage, and you must remember that his blood flows in your veins. He has confided to me his plans, his hopes, and why and how he hopes to attain his object. He will no doubt succeed. My dear Axel, it is a grand thing to devote yourself to science! What honour will fall upon Herr Liedenbrock, and so be reflected upon his companion! When you return, Axel, you will be a man, his equal, free to speak and to act independently, and free to —"

"Axel," she said, "I have had a long talk with my guardian. He is a bold philosopher and a man of immense courage. You must remember that his blood flows in your veins. He has told me his plans and his hopes. He has also told me why and how he hopes to reach his goal. He will surely succeed. My dear Axel, it is a wonderful thing to devote yourself to science! What honor will come to Herr Liedenbrock, and how his companion will share in it! When you return, Axel, you will be a man and his equal. You will be free to speak and act for yourself, and free to..."

The dear girl only finished this sentence by blushing. Her words revived me. Yet I refused to believe we should start. I drew Gräuben into the Professor's study.

The dear girl blushed as she finished speaking. Her words revived me. Yet I still refused to believe we would set out. I led Gräuben into the Professor's study.

"Uncle, is it true that we are to go?"

"Uncle, is it true that we're going?"

"Why do you doubt?"

"Well, I don't doubt," I said, not to vex him; "but, I ask, what need is there to hurry?"

"Well, I don't doubt it," I said, not wanting to upset him. "But why do we need to hurry?"

"Time, time, flying with irreparable rapidity."

"Time, time, flying by so quickly and never to return."

"But it is only the 16th May, and until the end of June—"

"But it's only May 16, and until the end of June..."

"What, you monument of ignorance! do you think you can get to Iceland in a couple of days? If you had not deserted me like a fool I should have taken you to the Copenhagen office, to Liffender & Co., and you would have learned then that there is only one trip every month from Copenhagen to Rejkiavik, on the 22nd."

“What, you monument of ignorance! Do you think you can get to Iceland in a couple of days? If you hadn’t left me like a fool, I would have taken you to the Copenhagen office of Liffender & Co. There you would have learned that there is only one trip a month from Copenhagen to Rejkiavik, on the 22nd.”

"Well?"

"Well, if we waited for the 22nd June we should be too late to see the shadow of Scartaris touch the crater of Sneffels. Therefore we must get to Copenhagen as fast as we can to secure our passage. Go and pack up."

"Well, if we wait until June 22, we'll be too late to see Scartaris's shadow touch the crater of Sneffels. So we must get to Copenhagen as fast as we can to book our passage. Go and pack."

There was no reply to this. I went up to my room. Gräuben followed me. She undertook to pack up all things necessary for my voyage. She was no more moved than if I had been starting for a little trip to Lübeck or Heligoland. Her little hands moved without haste. She talked quietly. She supplied me with sensible reasons for our expedition. She delighted me, and yet I was angry with her. Now and then I felt I ought to break out into a passion, but she took no notice and went on her way as methodically as ever.

There was no reply to this. I went up to my room, and Gräuben followed me. She offered to pack everything I needed for my journey. She seemed no more upset than if I were leaving for a short trip to Lübeck or Heligoland. Her little hands moved without hurry. She spoke quietly and gave me sensible reasons for the expedition. She delighted me, yet I was angry with her. Now and then, I felt I should burst out in anger. But she took no notice and went on as methodically as ever.

Finally the last strap was buckled; I came downstairs. All that day the philosophical instrument makers and the electricians kept coming and going. Martha was distracted.

Finally, the last strap was buckled. I came downstairs. All day, scientific instrument makers and electricians came and went. Martha was flustered.

"Is master mad?" she asked.

"Is the master crazy?" she asked.

I nodded my head.

I nodded.

"And is he going to take you with him?"

I nodded again.

"Where to?"

I pointed with my finger downward.

I pointed down.

"Down into the cellar?" cried the old servant.

"Down into the cellar?" the old servant exclaimed.

"No," I said. "Lower down than that."

"No," I said. "Lower than that."

Night came. But I knew nothing about the lapse of time.

Night came. But I had no sense of time passing.

"To-morrow morning at six precisely," my uncle decreed "we start."

"Tomorrow morning at six sharp," my uncle declared, "we leave."

At ten o'clock I fell upon my bed, a dead lump of inert matter. All through the night terror had hold of me. I spent it dreaming of abysses. I was a prey to delirium. I felt myself grasped by the Professor's sinewy hand, dragged along, hurled down, shattered into little bits. I dropped down unfathomable precipices with the accelerating velocity of bodies falling through space. My life had become an endless fall. I awoke at five with shattered nerves, trembling and weary. I came downstairs. My uncle was at table, devouring his breakfast. I stared at him with horror and disgust. But dear Gräuben was there; so I said nothing, and could eat nothing.

At ten o'clock I collapsed onto my bed, as lifeless as a lump of matter. Terror gripped me all night. I dreamed of bottomless depths and became delirious. I felt the Professor's strong hand grab me, drag me along, hurl me down, and smash me to pieces. I fell down endless cliffs, gathering speed like a body falling through space. My life had become an endless fall. I woke at five, trembling and exhausted, my nerves shattered. I went downstairs. My uncle was at the table, devouring his breakfast. I stared at him with horror and disgust. But dear Gräuben was there, so I said nothing and could eat nothing.

At half-past five there was a rattle of wheels outside. A large carriage was there to take us to the Altona railway station. It was soon piled up with my uncle's multifarious preparations.

At five thirty, wheels rattled outside. A large carriage had arrived to take us to the Altona railway station. It was soon loaded with the many things my uncle had prepared for the journey.

"Where's your box?" he cried.

"Where's your box?" he shouted.

"It is ready," I replied, with faltering voice.

"It is ready," I replied, my voice shaking.

"Then make haste down, or we shall lose the train."

"Then hurry down, or we'll miss the train."

It was now manifestly impossible to maintain the struggle against destiny. I went up again to my room, and rolling my portmanteaus downstairs I darted after him.

It was now clearly impossible to keep fighting destiny. I went back up to my room, rolled my suitcases downstairs, and hurried after him.

At that moment my uncle was solemnly investing Gräuben with the reins of government. My pretty Virlandaise was as calm and collected as was her wont. She kissed her guardian; but could not restrain a tear in touching my cheek with her gentle lips.

At that moment, my uncle was solemnly putting Gräuben in charge of the household. My pretty Virlandaise was as calm and composed as ever. She kissed her guardian. But she could not hold back a tear as she gently kissed my cheek.

"Gräuben!" I murmured.

"Gräuben!" I whispered.

"Go, my dear Axel, go! I am now your betrothed; and when you come back I will be your wife."

"Go, my dear Axel, go! I'm engaged to you now, and when you come back, I'll be your wife."

I pressed her in my arms and took my place in the carriage. Martha and the young girl, standing at the door, waved their last farewell. Then the horses, roused by the driver's whistling, darted off at a gallop on the road to Altona.

I hugged her and got into the carriage. Martha and the young girl stood at the door and waved goodbye. Then the driver whistled, and the horses galloped off along the road to Altona.