"I have thoughts for all," he answered, "but Suzanne alone has thought
for me, since it seems that your husband would send me away, and you,
mother, sit still and say not a word to stop him."

"Learn to judge speech and not silence, lad," I answered. "Look you, all
have been talking, and I have shammed dead like a stink-cat when dogs
are about; now I am going to begin. First of all, you, Jan, are a fool,
for in your thick head you think that rank and wealth are everything to
a man, and therefore you would send Ralph away to seek rank and wealth
that may or may not belong to him, although he does not wish to go. As
for you, Ralph, you are a bigger fool, for you think that Jan Botmar,
your foster-father here, desires to be rid of you when in truth he only
seeks your good to his own sore loss. As for you, Suzanne, you are the
biggest fool of all, for you wish to fly in everybody's face, like a cat
with her first litter of kittens; but there, what is the use of arguing
with a girl in love? Now listen, and I will ask you some questions, all
of you. Jan, do you wish to send Ralph away with these strangers?"

"Almighty! vrouw," he answered, "you know well that I would as soon send
away my right hand. I wish him to stop here for ever, and whatever I
have is his; yes, even my daughter. But I seek what is best for him,
and I would not have it said in after years that Jan Botmar had kept an
English lad not old enough to judge for himself from his rank and wealth
because he took pleasure in his company and wished to marry him to his
girl."

"Good," I said. "And now for you, Suzanne; what have you to say?"

"I have nothing to add to my words," she replied; "you know all my
heart."