pity that we Hollanders should so persistently hold out
against the troops of our lawful sovereign; far better by yielding with
a good grace to bring the fighting to an end."

"And share the fate of the unhappy inhabitants of Haarlem," answered
Jaqueline, for the first time turning her head and glancing at him with
a look which betokened as much contempt as her features were capable of
exhibiting. "Think of the thousands of our countrymen who have been
cruelly butchered because they were determined to hold fast to our
Protestant faith rather than confess that of our foreign tyrants. I
should say, let every man and woman perish bravely, fighting to the last
rather than basely give up their birthrights."

"I will not venture to argue with you on that point, fair Jaqueline,"
answered Van Arenberg. "I wish as much as any Hollander can do to
preserve our birthrights, as well as my castle and broad estates, but I
assure you that you underrate the power of the Spaniards. Our cause,
the patriot cause, is desperate; it is on account of the deep admiration
I feel for you, if I may use no warmer term, that I would save you from
the horrors to which others have been exposed."

"I speak the sentiments held by my father and every right-minded man in
our city--ay! and woman too," answered Jaqueline, in a firm tone. "We
would imitate our sisters in Haarlem and Alkmaar and join the citizens
in defending our walls."

"But should the city be again besieged--and it assuredly will be should
the report of the total defeat of Count Louis prove correct--how can
Leyden hope to hold out against the disciplined and experienced troops
of the king? The Prince of Orange has no force sufficient to relieve
the city, and be assured that the fate which overtook Haarlem will be
that of Leyden, though the inhabitants are not likely to be treated with
that measure of forbearance which those of Haarlem received."

"If you speak of the measure of forbearance awarded to Haarlem, that was
small indeed," said Jaqueline. "You seem to forget that every citizen
of wealth was massacred, that every Hollander who had borne arms in the
siege was put to death, while many hundreds of other citizens were
afterwards murdered by the savage Spaniards who desired to strike terror
into the hearts of the survivors. I should say, rather than submit to
so terrible a fate, let us struggle to the last, and then perish amid
the ruins of the town."

"You are indeed, l