"Who sent you there, Katherine?"

"No one, mother. When I passed the house, my name I heard, and Mrs.

Gordon came out to me; and how could I refuse her? Much had we to talk

of."

Batavius saw the girl's placid face, and heard her open confession, with

the greatest amazement. He looked at Joanna, and was just going to

express his opinion, when Joris rose, pushed his chair a little angrily

aside, and said, "There is no blame to you, Katherine. Very kind was

Mrs. Gordon to you, and she is a pleasant woman. For others' faults she

must not answer. That, also, is what Elder Semple says; for when past

was her anger, with a heart full of sorrow she went to him and to Madam

Semple."

"The sorrow that is too late, of what use is it? A very pleasant woman!

Perhaps she is, but then, also, a very vain, foolish woman. Every person

of discretion says so; and if I had a daughter"-"Well, then, Batavius, a daughter thou may have some day. To the man

with a tender heart, God gives his daughters. Wanting in some good thing

I had felt myself, if only sons I had been trusted with. A daughter is a

little white lamb in the household to teach men to be gentle men."

"I was going to say this, if I had a daughter"-"Well, then, when thou hast, more wisdom will be given thee. Come with

thy father, Katrijntje, and down the garden we will walk, and see if

there are dahlias yet, and how grow the gold and the white

chrysanthemums."

But all the time they were in the garden together, Joris never spoke of

Mrs. Gordon, nor of Katherine's visit to her. About the flowers, and the

restless swallows, and the bluebirds, who still lingered, silent and

anxious, he talked; and a little also of Joanna, and her new house, and

of the great wedding feast that was the desire of Batavius.

"Every one he has ever spoken to, he will ask," said Katherine; "so hard

he tries to have many friends, and to be well spoken of."

"That is his way, Katrijntje; every man has his way."

"And I like not the way of Batavius."

"In business, then, he has a good name, honest and prudent. He will

make thy sister a good husband."

But, though Joris said nothing to his daughter concerning her visit to

Mrs. Gordon, he talked long with Lysbet about it. "What will be the end,

thou may see by the child's face and air," he said; "the shadow and the

heaviness are gone. Like the old Katherine she is to-night."




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