“Joris, if he has spoken to you, then where is the secret?”

“Too late he spoke.  When worked was his own selfish way, to tell me of his triumph he comes.  It is a shameful wrong.  Forgive it?  No, I will not,—­never!”

No one answered him; only Katherine’s low weeping broke the silence, and for a few moments Joris paced the room sorrowful and amazed.  Then he looked at Lysbet, and she rose and gave her place to him.  He put his arms around his darling, and kissed her fondly.

[Illustration:  “Listen to me, thy father!”]

“Mijn kindje, listen to me thy father.  It is for thy happy life here, it is for thy eternal life, I speak to thee.  This man for whom thou art now weeping is not good for thee.  He is not of thy faith, he is a Lutheran; not of thy people, he is an Englishman; not of thy station, he talks of his nobility; a gambler also, a man of fashion, of loose talk, of principles still more loose.  If with the hawk a singing-bird might mate happily, then this English soldier thou might safely marry. Mijn beste kindje, do I love thee?”

“My father!”

“Do I love thee?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Dost thou, then, love me?”

She put her arms round his neck, and laid her cheek against his, and kissed him many times.

“Wilt thou go away and leave me, and leave thy mother, in our old age?  My heart thou would break.  My gray hairs to the grave would go in sorrow.  Katrijntje, my dear, dear child, what for me, and for thy mother, wilt thou do?”

“Thy wish—­if I can.”

Then he told her of the provision made for her future.  He reminded her of Neil’s long affection, and of her satisfaction with it until Hyde had wooed her from her love and her duty.  And, remembering the elder’s reproach on his want of explicitness, he added, “To-morrow, about thy own house, I will take the first step.  Near my house it shall be; and when I walk in my garden, in thy garden I will see thee, and only a little fence shall be between us.  And at the feast of St. Nicholas thou shalt be married; for then thy sisters will be here, thy sisters Anna and Cornelia.  And money, plenty of money, I will give thee; and all that is proper thy mother and thee shall buy.  But no more, no more at all, shalt thou see or speak to that bad man who has so beguiled thee.”

At this remark Katherine sadly shook her head; and Lysbet’s face so plainly expressed caution, that Joris somewhat modified his last order, “That is, little one, no more until the feast of St. Nicholas.  Then thou wilt be married and then it is good, if it is safe, to forgive all wrongs, and to begin again with all the world in peace and good living.  Wilt thou these things promise me? me and thy mother?”

“Richard I must see once more.  That is what I ask.”

“Richard! So far is it?”

She did not answer; and Joris rose, and looked at the girl’s mother inquiringly.  Her face expressed assent; and he said reluctantly, “Well, then, I will as easy make it as I can.  Once more, and for one hour, thou may see him.  But I lay it on thee to tell him the truth, for this and for all other time.”