It was in this mood that Katherine and her probable fortune had been

discussed; and thus she was but one of the events, springing from lives

anterior to her own, and very different from it. And causes nearly as

remote had prepared the way for her ready reception of Hyde's homage,

and the relaxation of domestic discipline which had trusted her so often

and so readily in his society--causes which had been forgotten, but

which had left behind them a positive and ever-growing result. When a

babe, she was remarkably frail and delicate; and this circumstance,

united to the fact of her being the youngest child, had made the whole

household very tender to her, and she had been permitted a much larger

portion of her own way than was usually given to any daughter in a Dutch

family.

Also, in her father's case, the motives influencing his decision

stretched backward through many generations. None the less was their

influence potent to move him. In fact, he forgot entirely to reflect how

a marriage between his child and Captain Hyde would be regarded at that

day; his first thoughts had been precisely such thoughts as would have

occurred to a Van Heemskirk living two hundred years before him. And

thus, though we hardly remember the fact, it is this awful solidarity of

the human family which makes the third and fourth generations heirs of

their forefathers, and brings into every life those critical hours we

call "eventful days."

Joris, however, made no such reflections. His age was not an age

inclined to analysis, and he was still less inclined to it from a

personal standpoint. For he was a man of few, but positive ideas; yet

these ideas, having once commended themselves to his faith or his

intelligence, were embraced with all his soul. It was this spirit which

made him deprecate even religious discussions, so dear to the heart of

his neighbour.

"I like them not, Elder," he would say; "of what use are they, then?

The Calvinistic faith is the true faith. That is certain. Very well,

then; what is true does not require to be examined, to see if it be

true."

Semple's communication regarding Captain Hyde and his daughter had

aroused in him certain feelings, and led him to certain decisions. He

went to sleep, satisfied with their propriety and justice. He awoke in

precisely the same mood. Then he dressed, and went into his garden. It

was customary for Katherine to join him there; and he frequently turned,

as he went down the path, to see if she were coming. He watched eagerly

for the small figure in its short quilted petticoat and buckled shoes,

and the fair, pink face shaded by the large Zealand hat, with its long

blue ribbons crossed over the back. But this morning she did not come.

He walked alone to his lily bed, and stooped a little forlornly to

admire the tulips and crocus-cups and little purple pansies; but his

face brightened when he heard her calling him to breakfast, and very

soon he saw her leaning over the half door, shading her eyes with both

her hands, the better to watch his approach.




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