So she wrote to Mijnheer and told him that she had fared well, and found another situation in Holland after leaving his service.  Also that she had now left it and, having inherited a little property, had come to live in a country cottage with her father.  She further said that she meant to imitate the Dutch and do her own house-work and also grow things, vegetables especially, in her garden.

And Mijnheer, when he got the letter, was delighted; so, too, was Mevrouw; Joost said nothing.  They read the letter two or three times, showed it to the Snieders (including Denah) and to the Dutch girl who now filled Julia’s situation—­more or less.  They talked over it a great deal and over Julia too; they remembered every detail about her, her good points and her great fall.  They were as delighted as they could be to hear that she was well and happy and apparently, good.  Mijnheer especially was pleased to hear that she was with her father—­he did not know that gentleman—­he was sure she would be well looked after with him, and that, so he said, was what she wanted.  So, contrary to their theory, but not out of accord with their practice, they forgave the sin for the sake of the sinner, and Mijnheer ordered to be packed, seeds and bulbs and plants for Julia’s garden.  He selected them himself, flowers as well as vegetables, sorts which he thought most suitable; and he ordered Joost to stick to the bags strips cut out of catalogues where, in stiff Dutch-English, directions are given as to how to grow everything that can be grown.  And if Joost put in some sorts not included in his father’s list, and failed to tell the good man about it, it was no doubt all owing to his having at one time associated with the dishonest Julia.

The packing and dispatching of the box gave great pleasure to the Van Heigens; but the receiving and unpacking gave even greater pleasure when at last it reached Miss Snooks at White’s Cottage.  Julia had not told Mijnheer why she was Miss Snooks now and he, after grave consideration, decided that it must be because of the legacy, and in fulfilment of some obscure English law of property.  Having so decided, he addressed the case in good faith, and advised her of its departure.

Julia and Mr. Gillat planted the things that came in the box; Julia planted most, but Mr. Gillat enjoyed it even when he was only looking on.  There was one bulb she set when he was not there to look on, but it did not come with the others.  She chose a spot that best fulfilled the conditions described in the directions for growing daffodils and there, late one afternoon, she planted the bulb that she had brought with her from the Van Heigens.  Afterwards she marked the place round and told Johnny and her father there was a choice flower there which was not to be touched.

Julia went to the market town as she had arranged.  Mr. Gillat worked in the garden; Captain Polkington watched him for a little and then went out, after spending, as he always did, some time getting ready.  He took a basket with him; he thought of collecting fir-cones and he objected to the sack, though it held a vast deal more; he felt carrying it to be derogatory to a soldier and a gentleman.  It is true he did not get fir-cones that day, but he really meant to when he started.