Besides, with a natural contradiction, she was a little angry at Neil's

behaviour. He had been coming to their house constantly for a month at

least; every opportunity of speaking to Katherine on his own behalf had

been given him, and he had not spoken. He was too indifferent, or he was

too confident; and either feeling she resented. But she judged Neil

wrongly. He was an exceedingly cautious young man; and he felt what

the mother could not perceive,--a certain atmosphere about the charming

girl which was a continual repression to him. In the end, he determined

to win her, win her entirely, heart and hand; therefore he did not wish

to embarrass his subsequent wooing by having to surmount at the outset

the barrier of a premature "no." And, as yet, his jealousy of Captain

Hyde was superficial and intermitting; it had not entered his mind that

an English officer could possibly be an actual rival to him. They were

all of them notoriously light of love, and the Colonial beauties treated

their homage with as light a belief; only it angered and pained him that

Katherine should suffer herself to be made the pastime of Hyde's idle

hours.

On the night of De Vries' return, there was a great gathering at Van

Heemskirk's house. No formal invitations were given, but all the friends

of the family understood that it would be so. Joris kept on his coat and

ruffles and fine cravat, Batavius wore his blue broadcloth and gilt

buttons, and Lysbet and her daughters were in their kirk dresses of silk

and camblet. It was an exquisite summer evening, and the windows

looking into the garden were all open; so also was the door; and long

before sunset the stoop was full of neighbourly men, smoking with Joris

and Batavius, and discussing Colonial and commercial affairs.

In the living-room and the best parlour their wives were

gathered,--women with finely rounded forms, very handsomely clothed, and

all busily employed in the discussion of subjects of the greatest

interest to them. For Joanna's marriage was now to be freely talked

over,--the house Batavius was going to build described, the linen and

clothing she had prepared examined, and the numerous and rich presents

her lover had brought her wondered over, and commented upon.

Conspicuous in the happy chattering company, Lysbet Van Heemskirk

bustled about, in the very whitest and stiffest of lace caps; making a

suggestion, giving an opinion, scolding a careless servant, putting out

upon the sideboard Hollands, Geneva, and other strong waters, and

ordering in from the kitchen hot chocolate and cakes of all kinds for

the women of the company. Very soon after sundown, Elder Semple and

madam his wife arrived; and the elder, as usual, made a decided stir

among the group which he joined.




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