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Anneke had made a lively impression on me from the very first, but that impression had now gone deeper than the imagination, and had very sensibly touched the heart. Perhaps it was necessary to see her in the retirement of the purely domestic circle, to give all her charms their just ascendency.
My great-great-grandmother, Alida van der Heyden, was a first cousin of Herman Mordaunt's great-great-grandmother, by his mother's side, who was a Van Kleeck. So, you see, you and Anneke are actually related." "Just near enough, mother, to put one at ease in their house, and not so near as to make relationship troublesome." "They tell me, my child, that Anneke is a sweet creature!"
"How odd it is, Corny," added my mother, in a sort of musing, soliloquizing way, "you are an only child, and Anneke Mordaunt is also an only child, as Dirck Follock has often told me." "Then Dirck has spoken to you frequently of Anneke, before this, mother?" "Time and again; they are relations, you must have heard; as, indeed, you are yourself, if you did but know it."
"It must be the lavender with which we young ladies are so coquettish as to sprinkle our gloves and handkerchiefs or it may be musk. Mary is rather fond of musk, though I prefer lavender. But what an evening we had, Mr. Littlepage! and what an introduction you have had to Albany and most of all, what a master of ceremonies!" "Do you then dislike Guert Ten Eyck as an acquaintance, Miss Anneke?"
I could not avoid smiling at Bulstrode's singular views of our suit; but, as Anneke was ever with me an engrossing theme, spite of our situation, which certainly was not particularly appropriate to love, I did not feel equal to quitting it abruptly. The matter was consequently pursued. As I asked Bulstrode to explain himself, I got from him the following account of his theory.
It was in my power to be of a trifling service to Miss Anneke, last spring, and the whole family is disposed to remember it." "So I can see, at a glance; even Anneke remembers it. I have heard the whole story from Mary Wallace; it was about a lion.
Only twenty, inexperienced and unaccustomed to town society, I felt awkward and unpleasantly the instant I entered the room; nor did the feeling subside during the first half-hour. Anneke came forward, one or two steps, to meet me; and I could see, she was almost as much confused, as I was myself.
As a matter of course, Anneke was put in front, most of the men who were in the booth giving way to her with respectful attention. Unfortunately, the young lady wore an exceedingly pretty shawl, in which scarlet was a predominant colour; and that which occurred has been attributed to this circumstance, though I am far from affirming such to have been literally the case.
Not a murmur escaped Anneke, at this disappointment; but, with a sweetness of temper that spoke volumes in favour of her natural disposition, and a resignation that told her training, she professed a readiness to renew her efforts.
The tongues of the pretty little things went, as girls' tongues will go, though my unknown fair one maintained all the reserve and quiet of manner that comported with her young womanhood, and apparent condition in life. "Dere, Miss Anneke!" exclaimed Katrinke, suddenly; "dere come a genttleum dat will bring a pleasure, I know."
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