As soon as his first word of command was heard, Henrica's window closed
with a bang. Formerly it had often been opened when the fencing drill
began, and she had not even shrunk from occasionally clapping her hands
and calling "bravo." This time had long since passed, it was weeks since
she had bestowed a word or glance on the young noble. She had never
made such advances to any man, would not have striven so hard to win a
prince's favor! And he? At first he had been distant, then more and
more assiduously avoided her. Her pride was deeply wounded. Her purpose
of diverting his attention from Maria had long been forgotten, and
moreover something--she knew not what had come between her and the young
wife. Not a day elapsed in which he did not meet her, and this was a
source of pleasure to Henrica, because she could show him that his
presence was a matter of indifference, nay even unpleasant. Her
imprisonment greatly depressed her, and she longed unutterably for the
open country, the fields and the forest. Yet she never expressed a wish
to leave the city, for--Georg was in Leyden, and every waking and
dreaming thought was associated with him. She loved him to-day, loathed
him tomorrow, and did both with all the ardor of her passionate heart.
She often thought of her sister too, and uttered many prayers for her.
To win the favor of Heaven by good works and escape ennui, she helped
the Grey Sisters, who lived in a little old convent next to Herr Van der
Werff's house, nurse the sick whole they had lovingly received, and even
went with Sister Gonzaga to the houses of the Catholic citizens, to
collect alms for the little hospital. But all this was done without
joyous self-devotion, sometimes with extravagant zeal, sometimes lazily,
and for days not at all. She had become excessively irritable, but after
being unbearably arrogant one day, would seem sorrowful and ill at ease
the next, though without asking the offended person's pardon.

The young girl now stood behind the closed window, watching Georg, who