wounds."

Maria now prepared for this silent confession, and sternly and pitilessly
examined her conduct. Yes, she had fixed her gaze far too steadily upon
herself, asked such and given little. The fault was recognized, and now
the amendment should begin.

After this self-inspection, her heart grew lighter, and when she at last
turned away from the morning-light to seek sleep, she looked forward with
pleasure to the affectionate greeting she meant to offer Peter in the
morning; but she soon fell asleep and when she woke, her husband had long
since left the house.

As usual, she set Peter's study in order before proceeding to any other
task, and while doing so, cast a friendly glance at the dead Eva's
picture. On the writing-table lay the bible, the only book not connected
with his business affairs, that her husband ever read. Barbara sometimes
drew comfort and support from the volume, but also used it as an oracle,
for when undecided low to act she opened it and pointed with her finger
to certain passage. This usually had a definite meaning and she
generally, though not always, acted as it directed. To-day she had been
disobedient, for in response to her question whether she might venture to
send a bag of all sorts of dainties to her son, a Beggar of the Sea, in
spite of the Spaniards encircling the city, he had received the words of
Jeremiah: "Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall
take to themselves their curtains and all their vessels and their
camels," and yet the bag had been entrusted early that morning to a
widow, who intended to make her escape to Delft with her young daughter,
according to the request of the magistrates. The gift might perhaps reach
Rotterdam; a mother always hopes for a miracle in behalf of her child.