To-day, for the first time, she noticed two deep lines that anxiety had
furrowed between his eyes and lips, and full of tender compassion, went
behind him, laid her hands on his cheeks and kissed him on the forehead.
He trembled slightly, seized her slender right hand so impetuously that
she shrank back, raised it first to his lips, then to his eyes, and held
it there for several minutes.

At last he rose, passed before her into his sleeping-room, bade her an
affectionate good-night, and lay down to rest. When she too sought her
bed, he was breathing heavily. Extreme fatigue had quickly overpowered
him. The slumber of both was destined to be frequently interrupted
during this night, and whenever Maria woke, she heard her husband sigh
and moan. She did not stir, that she might not disturb the sleep he
sought and needed, and twice held her breath, for he was talking to
himself. First he murmured softly: "Heavy, too heavy," and then: "If I
can only bear it."

When she awoke next morning, he had already left the room and gone to the
town-hall. At noon he returned home, saying that the Spaniards had taken
the Hague and been hailed with delight by the pitiful adherents of the
king. Fortunately, the well-disposed citizens and Beggars had had time
to escape to Delft, for brave Nicolas Ruichhaver had held the foe in
check for a time at Geestburg. The west was still open, and the newly-
fortified fort of Valkenburg, garrisoned by the English soldiers, would
not be so easy to storm. On the east, other British auxiliaries were
posted at Alfen in the Spaniards' rear.

The burgomaster told all this unasked, but did not speak as freely and
naturally as when conversing with men. While talking, he often looked
into his plate and hesitated. It seemed as if he were obliged to impose