by Georg Ebers
CHAPTER XI.
Frau Elizabeth von Nordwyk and Frau Van Bout had each asked theburgomaster's wife to go into the country with them to enjoy thebeautiful spring day, but in spite of Barbara's persuasions, Maria couldnot be induced to accept their invitation.
A week had elapsed since her husband's departure, a week whose days hadrun their course from morning to evening as slowly as the brackishwater in one of the canals, intersecting the meadows of Holland, flowedtowards the river.
Sleep loves the couches of youth, and had again found hers, but with therising of the sun the dissatisfaction, anxiety and secret grief, thatslumber had kindly interrupted, once more returned. She felt that it wasnot right, and her father would have blamed her if he had seen her thus.
There are women who are ashamed of rosy cheeks, unrestrained joy inlife, to whom the emotion of sorrow affords a mournful pleasure. To thisclass Maria certainly did not belong. She would fain have been happy,and left untried no means of regaining the lost joy of her heart.Honestly striving to do her duty, she returned to little Bessie; butthe child was rapidly recovering and called for Barbara, Adrian orTrautchen, as soon as she was left alone with her.
She tried to read, but the few books she had brought from Delft wereall familiar, and her thoughts, ere becoming fixed on the old volumes,pursued their own course.
Wilhelm brought her the new motet, and she endeavored to sing it; butmusic demands whole hearts from those who desire to enjoy her gifts, andtherefore melody and song refused comfort as well as pleasure to her,whose mind was engrossed by wholly different things. If she helpedAdrian in his work, her patience failed much sooner than usual. On thefirst market-day, she went out with Trautchen to obey her husband'sdirections and make purchases and, while shopping at the variousplaces where different wares were offered--here fish, yonder meat orvegetables, amid the motley crowd, hailed on every side by criesof: "Here, Frau Burgermeisterin! I have what you want, FrauBurgermeisterin!" forgot the sorrow that oppressed her.
With newly-animated self-reliance, she examined flour, pulse and driedfish, making it a point of honor to bargain carefully; Barbara shouldsee that she knew how to buy. The crowd was very great everywhere, forthe city magistrates had issued a proclamation bidding every household,in view of the threatened danger, to supply itself abundantly withprovisions on all the market-days; but the purchasers made way for theburgomaster's pretty young wife, and this too pleased her.
She returned home with a bright face, happy in having done her best, andinstantly went into the kitchen to see Barbara.
Peter's good-natured sister had plainly perceived how sorely her youngsister-in-law's heart was troubled, and therefore gladly saw her go outto make her purchases. Choosing and bargaining would surely dispel hersorrows and bring other thoughts. True, the cautious house-keeper,who expected everything good from Maria except the capacity of showingherself an able, clever mistress of the house, had charged Trautchen towarn her mistress against being cheated. But when in market the demandis two or three times greater than the supply, prices rise, and so ithappened that when Maria told the widow how much she had paid for thisor that article, Barbara's "My child, that's perfectly unheard--of!"or, "It's enough to drive us to beggary," followed each other in quicksuccession.
These exclamations, which under the circumstances were usually entirelyunjustifiable, vexed Maria; but she wished to be at peace with hersister-in-law, and though it was hard to bear injustice, it was contraryto her nature and would have caused her pain to express her indignationin violent words. So she merely said with a little excitement:
"Please ask what other ladies are paying, and then Scold, if you thinkit right."
With these words she left the kitchen.
"My child, I'm not scolding at all," Barbara called after her, but Mariawould not hear, hastily ascended the stairs and locked herself into herroom. Her joyousness had again vanished.
On Sunday she went to church. After dinner she filled a canvas-bag withprovisions for Adrian, who was going on a boating excursion with severalfriends, and then sat at the window in her chamber.
Stately men, among them many members of the council, passed by withtheir gaily-dressed wives and children; young girls with flowers intheir bosoms moved arm in arm, by twos and threes, along the footpathbeside the canal, to dance in the village outside the Zyl-Gate. Theywalked quietly forward with eyes discreetly downcast, but many a cheekflushed and many an ill-suppressed smile hovered around rosy lips, whenthe youths, who followed the girls moving so decorously along, as gailyand swiftly as sea-gulls flutter around a ship, uttered teasing jests,or whispered into their ears words that no third party need hear.
All who were going towards the Zyl-Gate seemed gay and careless, everyface showed what joyous hours in the open air and sunny meadows wereanticipated. The object that attracted them appeared beautiful anddesirable to Maria also, but what should she do among the happy, howcould she be alone amid strangers with her troubled heart? The shadowsof the houses seemed especially dark to-day, the air of the city heavierthan usual, as if the spring had come to every human being, great andsmall, old and young, except herself.
The buildings and the trees that bordered the Achtergracht were alreadycasting longer shadows, and the golden mists hovering over the roofsbegan to be mingled with a faint rosy light, when Maria heard a horsemantrotting up the street. She drew herself up rigidly and her heartthrobbed violently. She would not receive Peter any differently fromusual, she must be frank to him and show him how she felt, and thatmatters could not go on so, nay she was already trying to find fittingwords for what she had to say to him. Just at that moment, the horsestopped before the door. She went to the window; saw her husband swinghimself from the saddle and look joyously up to the window of her roomand, though she made no sign of greeting, her heart drew her towardshim. Every thought, every fancy was forgotten, and with winged steps sheflew down the corridor to the stairs. Meantime he had entered, and shecalled his name. "Maria, child, are you there!" he shouted, rushed upthe steps as nimbly as a youth, met her on one of the upper stairs anddrew her with overflowing tenderness to his heart.
"At last, at last, I have you again!" he cried joyously, pressinghis lips to her eyes and her fragrant hair. She had clasped her handsclosely around his neck, but he released himself, held them in his, andasked: "Are Barbara and Adrian at home?"
She shook her head.
The burgomaster laughed, stooped, lifted her up like a child, andcarried her into his room. As a beautiful tree beside a burning houseis seized by the neighboring flames, although immediately protected withcold water, Maria, in spite of her long-cherished resolve to receivehim coolly, was overwhelmed by the warmth of her husband's feelings. Shecordially rejoiced in having him once more, and willingly believedhim, as he told her in loving words how painfully he had felt theirseparation, how sorely he had missed her, and how distinctly he, whousually lacked the ability to remember an absent person, had had herimage before his eyes.
How warmly, with what convincing tones he understood how to giveexpression to his love to-day! She was still a happy wife, and showedhim that she was without reserve.
Barbara and Adrian returned home, and there was now much to tell at theevening meal. Peter had had many a strange experience on the journey,and gained fresh hope, the boy had distinguished himself at school, andBessie's sickness might already be called a danger happily overcome.Barbara was radiant with joy, for all seemed well between Maria and herbrother.
The beautiful April night passed pleasantly away. When Maria wasbraiding black velvet into her hair the next morning, she was fullof grateful emotion, for she had found courage to tell Peter thatshe desired to have a larger share in his anxieties than before, andreceived a kind assent. A worthier, richer life, she hoped, wouldnow begin. He was to tell her this very day what he had discussed andaccomplished with the Prince and at Dortrecht, for hitherto no word ofall this had escaped his lips.
Barbara, who was moving about in the kit
chen and just on the point ofcatching three chickens to kill them, let them live a little longer, andeven tossed half a handful of barley into their coop, as she heard hersister-in-law come singing down-stairs. The broken bars of Wilhelm'slast madrigal sounded as sweet and full of promise as the first notes ofthe nightingale, which the gardener hears at the end of a long winter.It was spring again in the house, and her pleasant round face, in itslarge cap, looked as bright and unclouded as a sunflower amid its greenleaves, as she called to Maria:
"This is a good day for you, child; we'll melt down the butter and saltthe hams."
The words sounded as joyous as if she had offered her an invitation toParadise, and Maria willingly helped in the work, which began at once.When the widow moved her hands, tongues could not remain silent, and theconversation that had probably taken place between Peter and his wifeexcited her curiosity not a little.
She turned the conversation upon him cleverly enough, and, as ifaccidentally, asked the question:
"Did he apologize for his departure on the anniversary of yourwedding-day?"
"I know the reason; he could not stay."
"Of course not, of course not; but whoever is green the goats eat. Wemustn't allow the men to go too far. Give, but take also. An injusticeendured is a florin, for which in marriage a calf can be bought."
"I will not bargain with Peter, and if anything weighed heavily on mymind, I have willingly forgotten it after so long a separation."
"Wet hay may destroy a barn, and any one to whom the hare runs can catchhim! People ought not to keep their troubles to themselves, but tellthem; that's why they have tongues, and yesterday was the right time tomake a clean breast of everything that grieves you."
"He was in such a joyous mood when he came home, and then: Why do youthink I feel unhappy?"
"Unhappy. Who said so?"
Maria blushed, but the widow seized the knife and opened the hen-coop.
Trautchen was helping the two ladies in the kitchen, but she wasfrequently interrupted in her work, for this morning the knocker onthe door had no rest, and those who entered must have brought theburgomaster no pleasant news, for his deep, angry voice was oftenaudible.
His longest discussion was with Herr Van Hout, who had come to him,not only to ask questions and tell what occurred, but also to makecomplaints.
It was no ordinary spectacle, when these two men, who, towering farabove their fellow-citizens, not only in stature, but moral earnestnessand enthusiastic devotion to the cause of liberty, declared theiropinions and expressed their wrath. The inflammable, restless Van Houttook the first part, the slow, steadfast Van der Werff, with mightyimpressiveness, the second.
A bad disposition ruled among the fathers of the city, the rich men ofold families, the great weavers and brewers, for to them property, lifeand consideration were more than religion and liberty, while the poormen, who laboriously supported their families by the sweat of theirbrows, were joyously determined to sacrifice money and blood for thegood cause.
There was obstacle after obstacle to conquer. The scaffolds and barns,frames and all other wood-work that could serve to conceal a man,were to be levelled to the earth, as all the country-houses and otherbuildings near the city had formerly been. Much newly-erected woodworkwas already removed, but the rich longest resisted having the axe putto theirs. New earthworks had been commenced at the important fort ofValkenburg; but part of the land, where the workmen were obliged to dig,belonged to a brewer, who demanded a large sum in compensation for hisdamaged meadow. When the siege was raised in March, paper-money wasrestored, round pieces of pasteboard, one side of which bore theNetherland lion, with the inscription, "Haec libertatis ergo," while theother had the coat-of-arms of the city and the motto "God guard Leyden."These were intended to be exchanged for coin or provisions, but richspeculators had obtained possession of many pieces, and were trying toraise their value. Demands of every kind pressed upon him, and amidall these claims the burgomaster was also compelled to think of his ownaffairs, for all intercourse with the outside world would soon be cutoff, and it was necessary to settle many things with the representativeof his business in Hamburg. Great losses were threatening, but he leftno means untried to secure for his family what might yet be saved.
He rarely saw wife or children; yet thought he was fulfilling thepromise Maria had obtained from him the evening after his return, whenhe briefly answered her questions or voluntarily gave her such sentencesas "There was warm work at the town-hall to-day!" or, "It is moredifficult to circulate the paper-money than we expected!" He did notfeel the kindly necessity of having a confidante and expressing hisfeelings, and his first wife had been perfectly contented and happy, ifhe sat silently beside her during quiet hours, called her his treasure,petted the children, or even praised her cracknels and Sunday roast.Business and public affairs had been his concern, the kitchen andnursery hers. What they had shared, was the consciousness of the loveone felt for the other, their children, the distinction, honors andpossessions of the household.
Maria asked more and he was ready to grant it, but when in the eveningshe pressed the wearied man with questions he was accustomed to hearonly from the lips of men, he put her off for the answers till less busytimes, or fell asleep in the midst of her inquiries.
She saw how many burdens oppressed him, how unweariedly he toiled--butwhy did he not move a portion of the load to other shoulders?
Once, during the beautiful spring weather, he went out with her into thecountry. She seized upon the opportunity to represent that it was hisduty to himself and her to gain more rest.
He listened patiently, and when she had finished her entreaty andwarnings, took her hand in his, saying:
"You have met Herr Marnix von St. Aldegonde and know what the cause ofliberty owes him. Do you know his motto?"
She nodded and answered softly: "Repos ailleurs."
"Where else can we rest," he repeated firmly.
A slight shiver ran through her limbs, and as she withdrew her hands,she could not help thinking: "Where else;-so not here. Rest andhappiness have no home here." She did not utter the words, but could notdrive them from her mind.