Lysbet was still a little on the defensive; but, when she saw Joris

coming home, her heart turned sick with fear. She was beating eggs for

her cake-making, and she went on with the occupation; merely looking up

to say, "Thee, Joris; dinner will not be ready for two hours! Art thou

sick?"

"Katherine--she has gone!"

"Gone? And where, then?"

"With that Englishman; in 'The Dauntless' they have gone."

"Believe it not. 'The Dauntless' left yesterday morning: Katherine at

seven o'clock last night was with me."

"Ah, he must have returned for her! Well he knew that if he did not

steal her away, I had taken her from him. Yes, and I feared him. When I

heard that 'The Dauntless' was to take him to the West Indies, I watched

the ship. After I kissed Katherine yesterday morning, I went straight to

the pier, and waited until she was on her way." Then he told her all

Mrs. Gordon had said, and showed her the fragments of Katherine's

letter. The mother kissed them, and put them in her bosom; and, as she

did so, she said softly, "it was a great strait, Joris."

"Well, well, we also must pass through it. The Dominie Van Linden has

gone to examine the records; and then, if she his lawful wife be, in the

newspapers I must advertise the marriage. Much talk and many questions I

shall have to bear."

"'If,' 'if she his lawful wife be!' Say not 'if' in my hearing; say not

'if' of my Katherine."

"When a girl runs away from her home"-"With her husband she went; keep that in mind when people speak to

thee."

"What kind of a husband will he be to her?"

"Well, then, I think not bad of him. Nearer home there are worse men.

Now, if sensible thou be, thou wilt make the best of what is beyond thy

power. Every bird its own nest builds in its own way. Nay, but blind

birds are we all, and God builds for us. This marriage of God's ordering

may be, though not of thy ordering; and against it I would no longer

fight. I think my Katherine is happy; and happy with her I will be,

though the child in her joy I see not."

"So much talk as there will be. In the store and the streets, a man must

listen. And some with me will condole, and some with congratulations

will come; and both to me will be vinegar and gall."




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