CHAPTER X

I EMBARK ON A SECOND VOYAGE


On my arrival at Amsterdam I obtained leave from my master, De Decker,
to visit my parents, and was received by them at my home at Urk with a
great show of affection, which, however, I found to be somewhat
lessened when it was known I had come back with empty pockets. My
father urged me to give up the sea, and to stick more closely to the
business of a merchant at Amsterdam, for which my education had fitted
me, and my mother extorted from me a half-willing promise that I would
follow my father's advice. I also met Anna Holstein, to whom I related
my adventures; nor did I conceal from her that my worldly condition was
not yet sufficiently improved to warrant my making formal proposals for
her hand in marriage.

My mother pronounced my appearance much improved, when she heard of my
attachment to Anna she declared me to be a fit mate for any lady in the
land.

"Of a truth, Peter," she said, "thou art become a proper man, like thy
father was before thee, and in my day a young man of spirit chose his
wife where he would. My own parents made objections to my being married
to your father without some payment to them in goods or money, to
compensate for the expense of my upbringing. But Abel Van Bu, thy
father, came to our house one June morning and bade me make ready to
marry him that very day, a clerk in holy orders being come to Urk to