r our marriage, that would have made _me_ happy, almost. But he's
gone--and every day--the longer he's away from me, the more I see for
myself that I don't feel toward you as I ought. You know it. But I want
to tell you again. I'm perfectly willing to marry you. Only--I'm afraid
I can't make you happy."

Looking at him with sorrowful, perplexed eyes, she went on:

"It's so disloyal to speak like this after I promised _him_; but,
Frederik, it's _true_."

Frederik found it hard to keep his patience; yet he continued to reason
with Kathrien in a voice even gentler than before, though with an
accent of finality in it that she could not disregard as he said:

"But you _did_ promise Uncle Peter you'd marry me, yes?"

Her answering "Yes" was barely audible.

Frederik continued insistently:

"And he died believing you, yes?"

Kathrien merely nodded; she could not look at him, could not speak.
After a moment she went on, her eyes still averted:

"That's what makes me try to live up to it. Still, I cannot help feeling
that if Oom Peter knew how hard everything seems--how alone I feel----"

"You are not alone while I am here, _lievling_----"

Kathrien smiled pathetically.

"You don't understand, Frederik. You mean to be kind--and you _are_
kind. And I thank you for it; but if only my mother had lived! As long
as dear Oom Peter was here he was father, mother, everything to me. I
felt no lack; but now--oh, I want my mother to turn to----"

The girl's eyes were suddenly suffused with tears.

"Don't you _see_? Try to know how I feel.--Try to understand----"

Suddenly Frederik stopped her torrent of words. He took her in his arms
before she realised it, and, kissing her, he said:

"_Natuerlich_--I understand. I love you--and in time--Wait! You shall
see! You must not worry, sweetheart. These things will come right, all
in good time."

But Kathrien had released herself with nervous if quiet haste.

"Willem is feeling so much better," she said, with a change of tone to
the ordinary.

"_Tc!_"

With his usual display of annoyance at the mention of Willem, Frederik
left Kathrien and walked over to Oom Peter's desk, where he began to
pick up and lay down the various articles strewn about its surface;
without in the least realising what he was doing.

"I do hope that child will be kept out of the way--to-morrow," he said
roughly.

"Why?"

"Oh--oh, I----"

Frederik found it hard to tell why.

"You have always d