登陆注册
5188000000261

第261章

It was the day after that terrible scene: the little house in the Hoog Straet was like a grave, and none more listless and dejected than Catherine, so busy and sprightly by nature, After dinner, her eyes red with weeping, she went to the convent to try and soften Gerard, and lay the first stone at least of a reconciliation.

It was some time before she could make the porter understand whom she was seeking.Eventually she learned he had left late last night, and was not expected back, She went sighing with the news to Margaret.She found her sitting idle, like one with whom life had lost its savour; she had her boy clasped so tight in her arms, as if he was all she had left, and she feared some one would take him too.Catherine begged her to come to the Hoog Straet.

"What for?" sighed Margaret."You cannot but say to yourselves, she is the cause of all.""Nay, nay," said Catherine, "we are not so ill-hearted, and Eli is so fond on you; you will maybe soften him.""Oh, if you think I can do any good, I'll come," said Margaret, with a weary sigh.

They found Eli and a carpenter putting up another name in place of Cornelis and Sybrandt's; and what should that name be but Margaret Brandt's.

With all her affection for Margaret, this went through poor Catherine like a knife."The bane of one is another's meat," said she.

"Can he make me spend the money unjustly?" replied Margaret coldly.

"You are a good soul," said Catherine."Ay, so best, sith he is the strongest."The next day Giles dropped in, and Catherine told the story all in favour of the black sheep, and invited his pity for them, anathematized by their brother, and turned on the wide world by their father.But Giles's prejudices ran the other way; he heard her out, and told her bluntly the knaves had got off cheap; they deserved to be hanged at Margaret's door into the bargain, and dismissing them with contempt, crowed with delight at the return of his favourite."I'll show him," said he, what 'tis to have a brother at court with a heart to serve a friend, and a head to point the way.""Bless thee, Giles," murmured Margaret softly.

"Thou wast ever his stanch friend, dear Giles," said little Kate;"but alack, I know not what thou canst do for him now,"Giles had left them, and all was sad and silent again, when a well-dressed man opened the door softly, and asked was Margaret Brandt here.

"D'ye hear, lass? You are wanted," said Catherine briskly.In her the Gossip was indestructible.

"Well, mother," said Margaret listlessly, "and here I am."A shuffling of feet was heard at the door, and a colourless, feeble old man was assisted into the room.It was Ghysbrecht Van Swieten.At sight of him Catherine shrieked, and threw her apron over her head, and Margaret shuddered violently, and turned her head swiftly away, not to see him.

A feeble voice issued from the strange visitor's lips, "Good people, a dying man hath come to ask your forgiveness.""Come to look on your work, you mean," said Catherine, taking down her apron and bursting out sobbing."There, there.she is fainting; look to her, Eli, quick.""Nay," said Margaret, in a feeble voice, "the sight of him gave me a turn, that is all, Prithee, let him say his say, and go; for he is the murderer of me and mine.""Alas," said Ghysbrecht, "I am too feeble to say it standing.and no one biddeth me sit down."Eli, who had followed him into the house, interfered here, and said, half sullenly, half apologetically, "Well, burgomaster, 'tis not our wont to leave a visitor standing whiles we sit.But man, man, you have wrought us too much ill." And the honest fellow's voice began to shake with anger he fought hard to contain, because it was his own house.

Then Ghysbrecht found an advocate in one who seldom spoke in vain in that family.

同类推荐
  • 窥天外乘

    窥天外乘

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns, and Homerica

    Hesiod, The Homeric Hymns, and Homerica

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 威尼斯商人

    威尼斯商人

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 昭忠录

    昭忠录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说九横经

    佛说九横经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 病了的字母

    病了的字母

    不仅有许多文章是反常规的写法,还有一大创新就是用了一百多方各具药理的中草药名来补白这个我看就是很好的表达方式。所以杂文也不光是板着面孔的它是形式多样的 它需要良好的方式。让观点和思想插上艺术的翅膀它们的影响自然更大生命力自然更强。
  • 八大处

    八大处

    北京有个西山,西山有个八大处。“八大处”一般指八大处公园,也指参谋、副官、秘书、政务、军务、军医、军需、军法等八个处。民间一直传说“八大处”代指某安全部门,至今尚未得到官方的任何回应。小说设计了两条线索:黄金大偷运与51区外星人。2013年,一件黄金大偷运时的古董突然现身山城。神秘出身的秦刚奉命前来调查,结果遭遇唐门道士李占一,同行的伙伴横死荒野。秦刚循着历史线索追查下去,一路结识了老特工陈渝捷、小伙伴丹增、女大学生白浩悦。四人不小心被卷入来天坑拍电影的好莱坞剧组里,先后遭到德国新纳粹分子等神秘势力的围攻。秦刚为调查剧组里隐藏的真相,带着丹增一路追去美国……(本系列共计5册,以上为第1册内容。)
  • Of Money

    Of Money

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 史上最难婚约

    史上最难婚约

    这是一本爱情婚姻攻略小说,尽管有着父辈的恩怨、前任的阻扰、兄弟搞破坏,他们还是携手走到最后,坟墓有你,甘之如饴!
  • 耶路撒冷告白

    耶路撒冷告白

    这是一段在冲突中探求接纳,在绝望中发现希望的异乡生活告白。成长于孟加拉国的利皮卡.佩拉汉,随其英国籍犹太人丈夫里欧搬进耶路撒冷──一个蕴含丰富文化、备受争议的神圣之地。面临新环境的冲击,两人婚姻一度岌岌可危。陷入矛盾难解“以巴冲突”中的佩拉汉,从个人经验出发,以婚姻生活为轴线,进而观看周遭,体认当地人们的对立与仇恨、矛盾与误解;记录下文化之冲突,生活之龃龉。失根的灵魂试图找到归属,在内心世界与外在环境交互激荡中,尽管模糊,仍试图在这座繁复的城市里勾勒出和解与希望之图像。
  • 低碳城市:让我们的城市轻松呼吸

    低碳城市:让我们的城市轻松呼吸

    低碳不仅仅是一种概念,低碳生活也不仅仅是一种时尚,它与我们的生活息息相关,这是一件利在千秋万代的大事。节水、节电、节气,摒弃高碳模式,崇尚低碳生活……就是身边这些不起眼的小事可以让低碳生活变为现实,让我们为低碳环境、绿色地球作出自己的贡献!
  • 地球版神话

    地球版神话

    (无敌于次元都市)多年后,陈雨辰在平行时空地球中醒来,神话中的人物也开始一一的出世...........。陈雨辰来到了一个混合版的玄幻武侠科技神话的世界,这里有次元版都市:有着写轮眼的忍者,吃了恶魔果实的恶魔人,吸血鬼,赛亚人,天使.....。 华夏国一个城市之上,有一道巨大虚影围着一座城市,这道虚影上半身燃烧着金色的火焰与闪电,高达上百万米高的燃烧着金色火焰的巨猿,那是一头黄金毛发披身,身上燃烧着金色的火焰,仿佛身披着黄金战甲的神明。 近似人脸,金色的猿目中流露出凶残暴戾的光芒,仿佛漠然世间一切的生命。那双瞳孔,更是金色。“在一瞬间,这黄金巨猿的神力指数瞬间跳到了百万点、千万点、亿、十亿…。 “一人守一城!” 当一个普通的青年突然来到神话版地球会这样呢。
  • 庄子神游:退隐不争的生命哲学

    庄子神游:退隐不争的生命哲学

    魏晋时期是中国历史上最崇尚高谈阔论的时期,通过辩驳来阐述自己的哲学思想,而这些玄妙的思想又都是阐发和辩论老子、庄子和列子的玄学思想为主。本书通过白话故事的方式介绍魏晋时期的名家学说,其中有崇尚有的,也有崇尚无的还有主张非无非有的,亦有辩论名和心、言与意的,等等。是一本关于魏晋玄学的通俗读物。
  • 恋上钻石王老五的吻

    恋上钻石王老五的吻

    处子之身的白枫被杨荣轩骗取清白之身后。白枫就当是一夜情,一笑而过。原本想回到自己宁静的生活,可不是料杨荣轩却对白枫展开了激烈的追求!“做我的女人,只要是我想要的,你就逃不出我的手掌心!”杨荣轩狠狠的捏着白枫的下巴冷冷的说道。“想让我做你女人,休想!”白枫同样的,也冷冷的回答。
  • 弦月无双:第一全职法师

    弦月无双:第一全职法师

    梦灵尘穿越了,穿到了个仙境一般的地方,还成了个婴儿……一脸懵逼的梦灵尘还没来得及开始怀疑人生,就被走近的某哥哥给吸引走了全部的注意力,结果就是,什么智商啊,脑子啊全都离家出走,竟然相信一个陌生人不会对她不利?!梦灵尘,你身为二十三世纪全职杀手的职业操守呢?!然而,唾弃完自己的梦灵尘依旧悠哉悠哉的赖在某哥哥怀里撒娇!而某哥哥则是过上了宠妻无下限的日子,本来好好一美男,现在都被梦灵尘给整得一惊一乍的,就怕一个不注意就把她就磕了碰了。梦灵尘也是把某哥哥当亲哥来看的,然而,等她长大了些之后……反应迟钝的某灵尘才反应过来。不仅冲着某哥哥喊了一句:“我把你当哥哥,你却想做我对象?!”