But all her little arrangements failed; and it was almost at the last

hour of the evening previous, that circumstances offered her a

reasonable excuse. It came through Batavius, who returned home later

than usual, bringing with him a great many patterns of damask and

figured cloth and stamped leather. At once he announced his intention of

staying at home the next morning in order to have Joanna's aid in

selecting the coverings for their new chairs, and counting up their

cost. He had taken the strips out of his pocket with an air of

importance and complaisance; and Katherine, glancing from them to her

mother, thought she perceived a fleeting shadow of a feeling very much

akin to her own contempt of the man's pronounced self-satisfaction. So

when supper was over, and the house duties done, she determined to speak

to her. Joris was at a town meeting, and Lysbet did not interfere with

the lovers. Katherine found her standing at an open window, looking

thoughtfully into the autumn garden.

"Mijn moeder."

"Mijn kind."

"Let me go away with Bram in the morning. Batavius I cannot bear. About

every chair-cover he will call in the whole house. The only

chair-covers in the world they will be. Listen, how he will talk: 'See

here, Joanna. A fine piece is this; ten shillings and sixpence the yard,

and good enough for the governor's house. But I am a man of some

substance,--Gode zij dank!--and people will expect that I, who give

every Sunday twice to the kirk, should have chairs in accordance.'

Moeder, you know how it will be. To-morrow I cannot bear him. Very

near quarrelling have we been for a week."

"I know, Katharine, I know. Leave, then, with Bram, and go first to

Margaret Pitt's, and ask her if the new winter fashions will arrive from

London this month. I heard also that Mary Blankaart has lost a silk

purse, and in it five gold jacobus, and some half and quarter johannes.

Ask kindly for her, and about the money; and so the morning could be

passed. And look now, Katherine, peace is the best thing; and to his own

house Batavius will go in a few weeks."

"That will make me glad."

"Whish, mijn kind! Thy bad thoughts should be dumb thoughts."

"Mijn moeder, sad and troubled are thy looks. What is thy sorrow?"

"For thee my heart aches often,--mine and thy good father's, too. Dost

thou not suffer? Can thy mother be blind? Nothing hast thou eaten

lately. Joanna says thou art restless all the night long. Thou art so

changed then, that wert ever such a happy little one. Once thou did love

me, Katrijntje."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024