sions they could spare,
reminding them that they would before long fall into the hands of their
foes, who would take them without payment. Still the amount of food
collected fell far short of what was required. The citizens did not
labour with the dull apathy of despair, but with warm enthusiasm, they
all being resolved to rival their countrymen at Alkmaar. The men sang
at their work, and the girls chatted as if they were engaged in some
holiday task. The only person who appeared not in any way to partake of
the general enthusiasm was the Baron Von Arenberg, who excused himself
on the plea that he was out of health, and that any exertion would be
exceedingly injurious to him, though he had no objection to standing
still and watching others at work, which he declared ought to afford the
labourers ample encouragement. He did not, however, make his appearance
in public as often as he had been accustomed to do. He was greatly put
out from the circumstance that when calling at the house of the
burgomaster he had seldom found him at home, and that Jaqueline had
invariably excused herself from seeing him during the absence of her
father. He had therefore not known how she was employed. Curiosity
had, however, prompted him one bright morning to take a walk round the
ramparts, and he arrived at a spot where a new battery was being thrown
up. On a high mound stood the burgomaster, and near him a number of men
were engaged in the more severe labour of the undertaking, while troops
of women, some with full baskets, were bringing up earth from the trench
which was being dug, while others were returning with the empty ones.
The baron started with astonishment, for at the head of one of the
parties appeared the Lily of Leyden carrying with a companion a basket
of earth; her dress, though not ungraceful, was suited to her
occupation. Me gazed as if at first unable to believe his senses, a
flush mantled on his brow.

"Can her father thus allow her to degrade herself?" he exclaimed to one
of the eldest and chief citizens who was standing by, whose daughters
and grand-daughters were similarly employed, though the baron was not
aware of the fact. "The task too is utterly useless; should the
Spaniards again lay siege to the town, they will, before two weeks are
over, have gained an entrance, and they have already shown the penalties
they intend to exact from those who resist their authority."

"Baron Van Arenberg, such I am boun