“All of them I have got.  Much money, Batavius, they must have cost.”

“Well, well, then!  There is enough left.  A man does not go to the African coast for nothing. Katrijntje, mijn meisje, what’s the matter now, that you never come once?”

Katherine was standing at the open window, apparently watching the honey-bees among the locust blooms, but really perceiving something far beyond them,—­a boat on the river at the end of the garden.  She could not have told how she knew that it was there; but she saw it, saw it through the intervening space, barred and shaded by many trees.  She felt the slow drift of the resting oars, and the fascination of an eager, handsome face lifted to the lilac-bushes which hedged the bank.  So the question of Batavius touched very lightly her physical consciousness.  A far sweeter, a far more peremptory voice called her; but she answered,—­

“There is nothing the matter, Batavius.  I am well, I am happy.  And now I will go into the garden to make me a fine nosegay.”

“Three times this week, into the garden you have gone to get a nosegay; and then all about it you forget.  It will be better to listen to Batavius, I think.  He will tell us of the strange countries where he has been, and of the strange men and women.”

“For you, Joanna, that will be pleasant; but”—­

“For you also.  To listen to Batavius is to learn something.”

“Well, that is the truth.  But to me all this talk is not very interesting.  I will go into the garden;” and she walked slowly out of the door, and stopped or stooped at every flower-bed, while Joanna watched her.

“The child is now a woman.  It will be a lover next, Joanna.”

“There is a lover already; but to anything he says, Katrijntje listens not.  It is at her father’s knee she sits, not at the lover’s.”

“It will be Rem Verplanck?  And what will come of it?”

“No, it is Neil Semple.  To-night you will see.  He comes in and talks of the Assembly and the governor, and of many things of great moment.  But it is Katherine for all that.  A girl has not been in love four years for nothing.  I can see, too, that my father looks sad, and my mother says neither yes nor no in the matter.”

“The Semples are good business managers.  They are also rich, and they approve of good morals and the true religion.  Be content, Joanna.  Many roads lead to happiness beside the road we take.  Now, let us talk of our own affairs.”

It was at this moment that Katherine turned to observe if she were watched.  No:  Batavius and Joanna had gone away from the window, and for a little while she would not be missed.  She ran rapidly to the end of the garden, and, parting the lilac-bushes, stood flushed and panting on the river-bank.  There was a stir of oars below her.  It was precisely as she had known it would be.  Captain Hyde’s pretty craft shot into sight, and a few strokes put it at the landing-stair.  In a moment he was at her side.  He took her in his arms; and, in spite of the small hands covering her blushing face, he kissed her with passionate affection.