Now, Heaven forbid he should ever leave us, married or single."

As Gerard came out of the house, his cheeks pale and his heart panting,
he met Reicht Heynes: she had a message for him: Margaret Van Eyck
desired to see him. He found the old lady seated grim as a judge. She
wasted no time in preliminaries, but inquired coldly why he had not
visited her of late: before he could answer, she said in a sarcastic
tone, "I thought we had been friends, young sir."

At this Gerard looked the picture of doubt and consternation.

"It is because you never told her you were in love," said Reicht Heynes,
pitying his confusion.

"Silence, wench! Why should he tell us his affairs? We are not his
friends: we have not deserved his confidence."

"Alas! my second mother," said Gerard, "I did not dare to tell you my
folly."

"What folly? Is it folly to love?"

"I am told so every day of my life."

"You need not have been afraid to tell my mistress; she is always kind
to true lovers."

"Madam--Reicht I was afraid because I was told..."

"Well, you were told--?"