“Yonder comes a boat in the direction of the city,” observed the other, reluctantly obeying a motion of the Alderman to retire to the apartment where they were accustomed to break their fasts.  “To me, it seems to approach with more than ordinary speed.”

“There are stout arms at its oars!  Can it be a messenger for the cruiser? no—­it rather steers more for our own landing.  These Jersey-men are often overtaken by the night, between York and their own doors.  And now, Patroon, we will to our knives and forks, like men who have taken the best stomachics.”

“And are we to refresh ourselves alone?” demanded the young man, who ever and anon cast a sidelong and wistful glance at the closed and immovable shutters of la Cour des Fees.

“Thy mother hath spoilt thee, young Oloff; unless the coffee comes from a pretty female hand, it loses its savor.  I take thy meaning, and think none the worse of thee; for the weakness is natural at thy years.  Celibacy and independence!  A man must get beyond forty, before he is ever sure of being his own master.  Come hither, Master Francis.  It is time my niece had shaken off this laziness, and shown her bright face to the sun.  We wait for her fair services at the table.—­I see nothing of that lazy hussy, Dinah, any more than of her mistress.”

“Assurement non, Monsieur,” returned the valet.  “Mam’selle Dinah do not love trop d’activite.  Mais, Monsieur Al’erman, elles sont jeunes, toutes les deux!  Le sommeil est bien salutaire, pour la jeunesse.”

“The girl is no longer in her cradle, Francis, and it is time to rattle at the windows.  As for the black minx, who should have been up and at her duty this hour, there will be a balance to settle between us.  Come, Patroon:—­the appetite will not await the laziness of a wilful girl; we will to the table.—­Dost think the wind will stand at west this morning?”

Thus saying, the Alderman led the way into the little parlor, where a neat and comfortable service invited them to break their morning fast.  He was followed by Oloff Van Staats, with a lingering step for the young man really longed to see the windows of the pavilion open, and the fair face of Alida smiling amid the other beautiful objects of the scene.  Francois proceeded to take such measures to arouse his mistress, as he believed to comport with his duty to her uncle, and his own ideas of bienseance.  After some little delay, the Alderman and his guest took their seats at the table; the former loudly protesting against the necessity of waiting for the idle, and throwing in an occasional moral concerning the particular merit of punctuality in domestic economy, as well as in the affairs of commerce.