The Argosy — page 239: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

220 Caterina. he gave no more hope than their own surgeon. ‘The old merchant might linger for months, but would never be well again. Caterina had lost her protector. She felt deserted ; and all devolved on her, from ordering the household to looking after the factory, and ledgers . were oftener in her hands than pencils. Amid this load of business — she was tortured by the longing to learn her husband’s fate: she had not courage to search for another medium, and Teresa had vanished. VII, Tue first of November, 1597, was a day long remembered in Amsterdam. ‘Those who mourned the ill-fated crew of the Orange were beginning to get over the agony of bereavement, and thinking of other matters. Mynheer Heemskerk had had a second stroke, and Caterina was more confined to his room than ever. ‘There was sickness in other homes. Hans Steen was crushed by a falling bale and badly hurt, and now lay helpless as his master. One of the servants came with news that stirred Caterina’s heart ; namely, that Vrow Steen had sent to summon Teresa home. She had no peace of mind after hearing this, and the desire to gain intelli- gence respecting Jacob consumed her. Whether in the factory with clerks and ledgers, with the frowning Truda in her store-room, or at the. sick-bed, one anxiety was uppermost. Had Jacob made his escape from the deadly regions of eternal snow ? She must see Teresa; but extreme caution would be needed, for she now knew well that she had enemies. Behold her, then, in the grey dawn of morning, stealing down the staircase unseen, for the servants were not astir; threading her way among the bales in the yard, and reaching Steen’s doorway, where she stood shivering. ‘The real peril of the adventure was here. Hans lay sick and could not pursue Teresa, but the neighbours might be alarmed, and they might be interrupted long ere she could learn where Jacob was. She was undecided what to do, when the door opened and Teresa almost fell into her arms. Instinct kept them silent. They took hands and hurried through the Haagstraat, not slackening their pace till they reached the gardens outside the city. ‘““ Now we may take breath,” said Caterina, still holding her com- panion’s hand. ‘Where are we going?” panted Teresa. ‘To our summer-house ; we shall be free from interruption there. Dost thou not want to know what has become of Jacob and Jan?” “Want to know? ‘The want to know has nearly killed me,” cried ‘T'eresa, hoarsely ; and Caterina turned to look at her. Her voice was Changed, but so was her face. Years might have passed over her head since they parted, instead of only one summer. The soft beauty that had first attracted the artist was haggard and worn. Heemskerk’s garden lay a full mile beyond Amsterdam. There Gomicbooks.com