The marriage license had been obtained from the governor, but

extraordinary influence had been used to procure it. Katherine was under

age, and yet subject to her father's authority. In spite of book and

priest and ring, he could retain his child for at least three years; and

three years, Hyde--in talking with his aunt--called "an eternity of

doubt and despair." These facts, Hyde, in his letters, had fully

explained to Katherine; and she understood clearly how important the

preservation of her secret was, and how much toward allaying suspicion

depended upon her own behaviour. Fortunately Joanna's wedding day was

drawing near, and it absorbed what attention the general public had for

the Van Heemskirk family. For it was a certain thing, developing into

feasting and dancing; and it quite put out of consideration suspicions

which resulted in nothing, when people examined them in the clear

atmosphere of Katherine's home.

At the feast of St. Nicholas the marriage was to take place. Early in

November the preparations for it began. No such great event could happen

without an extraordinary housecleaning; and from garret to cellar the

housemaid's pail and brush were in demand. Spotless was every inch of

paint, shining every bit of polished wood and glass; not a thimbleful of

dust in the whole house. Toward the end of the month, Anna and Cornelia

arrived, with their troops of rosy boys and girls, and their slow,

substantial husbands. Batavius felt himself to be a very great man. The

weight of his affairs made him solemn and preoccupied. He was not one of

those light, foolish ones, who can become a husband and a householder

without being sensible of the responsibilities they assume.

In the midst of all this household excitement Katherine found some

opportunities of seeing Mrs. Gordon; and in the joy of receiving letters

from, and sending letters to, her husband, she recovered a gayety of

disposition which effectually repressed all urgent suspicions. Besides,

as the eventful day drew near, there was so much to attend to. Joanna's

personal goods, her dresses and household linen, her china, and wedding

gifts, had to be packed; the house was decorated; and there was a most

amazing quantity of delicacies to be prepared for the table.

In the middle of the afternoon of the day before the marriage, there was

the loud rat-tat-tat of the brass knocker, announcing a visitor. But

visitors had been constant since the arrival of Cornelia and Anna, and

Katherine did not much trouble herself as to whom it might be. She was

standing upon a ladder, pinning among the evergreens and scarlet berries

rosettes and bows of ribbon of the splendid national colour, and singing

with a delightsome cheeriness,-"But the maid of Holland,

For her own true love,

Ties the splendid orange,

Orange still above!

O oranje boven!

Orange still above!"




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024