At last he rose and went into the garden; and she watched him wander

from bed to bed, and stand looking down at the green shoots of the early

flowers, and the lovely inverted urns of the brave snowdrops. To the

river and back again several times he walked; but about three o'clock he

came into the house with a firm, quick step, and, not finding Lysbet in

the sitting-room, called her cheerily. She was in their room upstairs,

and he went to her.

"Lysbet, thinking I have been--thinking of Katherine's marriage. Better

than I expected, it has turned out."

"I think that Katherine has made a good marriage--the best marriage of

all the children."

"Dost thou believe that her husband is so kind and so prudent as she

says?"

"No doubt of it I have."

"See, then: I will send to Katherine her portion. Cohen will give me the

order on Secor's Bank in Threadneedle Street. It is for her and her

children. Can I trust them with it?"

"Katherine is no waster, and full of nobleness is her husband. Write

thou to him, and put it in his charge for Katherine and her children.

And tell him in his honour thou trust entirely; and I think that he will

do in all things right. Nothing has he asked of thee."

"To the devil he sent my dirty guilders, made in dirty trade. I have not

forgot."

"Joris, the Devil speaks for a man in a passion. Keep no such words in

thy memory."

"Lysbet?"

"What then, Joris?"

"The drinking-cup of silver, which my father gave us at our

marriage,--the great silver one that has on it the view of Middleburg

and the arms of the city. It was given to my great-grandfather when he

was mayor of Middleburg. His name, also, was Joris. To my grandson shall

I send it?"

"Oh, my Joris, much pleasure would thou give Katherine and me also! Let

the little fellow have it. Earl of Dorset and Hyde he may be yet."

Joris blushed vividly, but he answered, "Mayor of New York he may be

yet. That will please me best."

"Five grandsons hast thou, but this is the first Joris. Anna has two

sons, but for his dead brothers Rysbaack named them. Cornelia has two

sons; but for thee they called neither, because Van Dorn's father is

called Joris, and with him they are great unfriends. And when Joanna's

son was born, they called him Peter, because Batavius hath a rich uncle

called Peter, who may pay for the name. So, then, Katherine's son is the

first of thy grandchildren that has thy name. The dear little Joris! He

has blue eyes too; eyes like thine, she says. Yes, I would to him give

the Middleburg cup. William Newman, the jeweller, will pack it safely,

and by the next ship thou can send it to the bankers thou spoke of. I

will tell Katherine so. But thou, too, write her a letter; for little

she will think of her fortune or of the cup, if thy love thou send not

with them."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024