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"That is my poor man," she sobbed. "Tell him, good Peter Buyskens, for I have not the courage." Elias turned pale. The presence of the burgomaster in his house, after so many years of coolness, coupled with his wife's and daughter's distress, made him fear some heavy misfortune. "Richart! Jacob!" he gasped.
Then Gerard threw himself on his knees beside her, and she flung her arms round him and wept for joy and pride upon his neck. "Good lad! good lad!" cried the hosier, with some emotion. "I must go and tell the neighbours. Lend me the medal, Gerard; I'll show it my good friend Peter Buyskens; he is ever regaling me with how his son Jorian won the tin mug a shooting at the butts."
She was keenly conscious of this, and watching for a slack tide in things domestic, put off her visit to Sevenbergen from day to day, and one afternoon that it really could have been managed, Peter Buyskens' mule was out of the way. At last, one day Eli asked her before all the family, whether it was true she had thought of visiting Margaret Brandt. "Ay, my man." "Then I do forbid you."
I tell you they bewitched this very Peter here; they cast unholy spells on him, and cured him of the colic: now, Peter, look and tell me who is that? and you be silent, women, for a moment, if you can; who is it, Peter?" "Well, to be sure!" said Peter, in reply; and his eye seemed fascinated by the picture. "Who is it?" repeated Ghysbrecht impetuously. Peter Buyskens smiled.
"Oh, neighbour! What is to do? Why, here is the burgomaster blackening our Gerard." "Stop!" cried Van Swieten. "Peter Buyskens is come in the nick of time. He knows father and daughter both. They cast their glamour on him." "What! is she a witch too?" "Else the egg takes not after the bird. Why is her father called the magician?
"Ay, do, my man; and show Peter Buyskens one of the angels. Tell him there are fourteen more where that came from. Mind you bring it me back!" "Stay a minute, father; there is better news behind," said Gerard, flushing with joy at the joy he caused. "Better! better than this?" Then Gerard told his interview with the Countess, and the house rang with joy.
He began with Margaret; told her of the Dame Van Eyck's goodness, and the resolution he had come to at last, and invited her co-operation. She refused it plump. "No, Gerard; you and I have never spoken of your family, but when you come to marriage " She stopped, then began again. "I do think your father has no ill-will to me more than to another. He told Peter Buyskens as much, and Peter told me.
You will not; for a bad heart in a carcass is like the worm in the nut, soon brings the body to dust. So, Kate, take down Gerard's bib and tucker that are in the drawer you wot of, and one of these days we will carry them to Sevenbergen. We will borrow Peter Buyskens' cart, and go comfort Gerard's wife under her burden. She is his wife. Who is Ghysbrecht Van Swieten?
"Alas! alas! who will help me if you will not? Dear Giles, do you not love Gerard?" "Yes, I like him best of the lot. I'll go to Sevenbergen on Peter Buyskens his mule. Ask you him, for he won't lend her me." Kate remonstrated. The whole town would follow him. It would be known whither he was gone, and Gerard be in worse danger than before.
"Silly child! look at her red hair! Would the Virgin be seen in red hair? She who had the pick of all the colours ten thousand years before the world began." At this moment an anxious face was insinuated round the edge of the open door: it was their neighbour Peter Buyskens. "What is to do?" said he in a cautious whisper. "We can hear you all across the street. What on earth is to do?"
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