Peter had assigned quarters to the English soldiers outside, and after a
consultation with the new commandant, Jan Van der Does, gave them
officers. They were probably waiting for their comrades, for when the
young wife had ascended the first steps of the staircase and looked
upward, she found the top of the narrow flight barred by the tall figure
of a soldier. The latter had his back towards her and was showing Bessie
his dark velvet cap, surrounded by rectangular teeth, above which floated
a beautiful light-blue ostrich-plume. The child seemed to have formed a
close friendship with the soldier, for, although the latter was refusing
her something, the little girl laughed gaily.

Maria paused irresolutely a moment; but when the child snatched the gay
cap and put it on her own curls, she thought she must check her and
exclaimed warningly: "Why, Bessie, that is no plaything for children."

The soldier turned, stood still a moment in astonishment, raised his hand
to his forehead, and then, with a few hurried bounds, sprang down the
stairs and rushed up to the burgomaster's wife. Maria had started back
in surprise; but he gave her no time to think, for stretching out both
hands he exclaimed in an eager, joyous tone, with sparkling eyes: "Maria!
Jungfrau Maria! You here! This is what I call a lucky day!" The young
wife had instantly recognized the soldier and willingly laid her right
hand in his, though not without a shade of embarrassment.

The officer's clear, blue eyes sought hers, but she fixed her gaze on the
floor, saying: "I am no longer what I was, the young girl has become a
housewife."

"A housewife!" he exclaimed. "How dignified that sounds! And yet!