dear; it is one of the most celebrated professors of the University of Leyden, the Doctor Van Holstentius.'
"'Yes, I know his name.'
"'Well, he has promised me to love the dear child as if she were his own daughter, but. . . .'
"'But what?'
"'I am much afraid, when I am no longer there. . . .'
"'How! when you are no longer there, have you left Monnikendam then, never to return?'
"'No, no, indeed, my dear; I am going to start home again directly, never fear. But we are none of us immortal, and if I should chance to die, our poor children, . . .'
"'Would they not have each his god-father, who loves him as if he were his own child? Would they not have the Burgomaster Vanclief, the engineer Van Brock, the Senator Van Tigel, Dr. Van Holstentius, etc .-' '
"'Alas!' replied the Buchold, 'my experience with you has taught me how much reliance can be placed on men's promises. There was more of vain profession than reality in the pledges given by our illustrious protectors; at this moment of speaking, my dear Olifus, but for your friend and neighbour Simon Van Groot, harbourmaster of Monnikendam, I don't know what would have become of us, me and the children I have, and the others I may have.'
"'What! the others you may have? what day of the month are we at?'
"'The 28th of October.'
"'Yes, but what Saint is the day dedicated to?'
"'Two great and holy saints, my dear, St. Simon and St. Jude.'
"'Oh! it is too much,' I cried. 'This time I shall not get off without a brace of twins.'
"'In any case,' said the Buchold, 'they will be the last.'
"'What makes you say so?'
"'Yes, they will be the last; don't you see how changed I am?'
"Indeed, as I have already said, her changed looks had struck me the moment I saw her,
"'Very true?' I said, 'what ails you?'
"She smiled sadly. 'Can you suppose,' she said, 'that journeys such as I take are not exhausting? Four times I have come to see you, without a murmur; going and returning, it is a matter of thirty-two thousand leagues,—four times round the world. Will you find many women to do as much for . . . for a scoundrel who only thinks of deceiving his poor faithful wife? Ah me! '—and the Buchold shed some tears.
"What she said was so true that I felt touched.
"'Well, but why do you come?' I asked her.
"'Why? because I love you, when all is said and done. Ah! if only you had stayed at Monnikendam, we might have been so happy?'
"'With your delightful temper! come, now!'
"'What do you mean? What spoilt my temper was jealousy. And why was I jealous? Because I loved you so fondly. Look here, it is five years now since it all happened; do you still tell me your visits were quite innocent, those visits to Amsterdam and Edam and Stavoren?'
"I scratched my ear.
"'Lord!' I stammered, 'to tell the real truth. . . .'
"'There, you see, you were in the wrong. Now, have you anything of the same sort to bring up against me?'
"'Nothing, I grant you, so long as I was at home.'
"'But since then,'! think . . .'
"'Since then things are not so simple. But still, there is nothing more to be said—for me, at any rate, appearances are on your side, and the dates lit in, don't they.'
"'Yes, to a day.'
"I heaved a sigh. 'Ah! the fact is,' I said, with an air of reflection, 'a man travels far afield to find happiness. . . .'
"'Yes, and find wives, eh? come, let us just run through the list of your wives.'
"'What need of that? I know it by heart, surely; besides, I am cured of marriage and marrying.'
"'Alas, alas! poor fellow, there is nothing like home and hearth, and children; come back, come back, you will find all this,—but without me perhaps.'
"'Come, come.'
"'I know what I am saying,' she sighed shaking her head sadly. 'But I should die in peace if I could hope that, to take their mother's place .... my poor children .... my poor children. . . .'
"'Very good, very good!—but don't
