Part 20 (2/2)
CONCLUSION
As we neared Aan to think, with so with Pauline It was now three years since I had set out upon e in the ”Golden Seahorse”, compelled to this course by reason of the incompatibility of te a happy union between us impossible Yet when I took myself to task I could not but blame myself for much that had occurred Pauline was vain, but so are most women, and most men too for that matter, for while a woman seeks admiration for her personal charms a man is equally proud of his achieve praised for what he has done So, on reviewing the matter of our matrimonial squabbles calmly and dispassionately, I came to the conclusion that there had been faults on both sides, and Iinby these ht live with soree of coive PaulineThedori, in order that she ht possess a necklace unequalled at A also had becoraver and more reserved than was his habit before we had set out upon this voyage He seeret the well-deserved fate which had overtaken Donna Isabel Barreto, and he would have asked nothing better than to set off on a voyage of discovery in search of her
So it ith subdued and chastened spirits that Hartog and I arrived at A should dispose of our rich cargo and apportion the profits of the venture As a peace offering to Pauline I took with me twenty splendid pearls and six silver fox-skins, and, thus provided, I presented myself at my house at Amsterdam, to which I was at first denied admittance by the man-servant, who opened the door to e ofthe matter; however, Pauline appeared in the hall, into which I advanced to ht, and her face had wonderfully softened I held outinto ed to ave way to tears I was touched by this kindly greeting, and had begun to mentally upbraid myself for my former conduct, and to promise aed disposition was suddenly, in a flash, revealed to me by a series of yells fro in re about of some hard substance on the floor
I looked into reat happiness which had co with his nurse,” she said, sh her tears ”He is such aup the stairs, and on entering the nursery I saw my boy seated on the floor, his face red with passion, while with his chubby little hands he was tearing the sails off a toy shi+p that had been given him to play with The clever lad, even in his infancy, y for a shi+p which they offered hied in seaman-like fashi+on Well, I promised myself that I would make him a model of the ”Golden Seahorse”, perfect in every detail, and big enough for hi and looked at , ”Oh, Master Peter, Master Peter, youa formula
I ran to Master Peter and picked him up, when he tried to bite my hard hand with his little pearly teeth Ah, what a lad of spirit he was! He was not a bit afraid of me or of anyone A boy after my own heart Then he looked at me, and the passion in his rosy face melted into a di his little arms round my neck, he seemed to ask pardon for his wilfulness We were coh not a as spoken we understood each other thoroughly
Pauline and the nurse watched us Both wo, as is the os But the tears they shed were tears of joy
When ere ether to look at the presents I had brought back with hted with the pearls and the fox-skins, but she at once decided that the skins wouldfor his little carriage I believe she would have given Master Peter the pearls to play with had he shown a fancy for them, but fortunately he did not notice the his face in the thick fur of the silver fox-skins
What a ho upon the ocean, and so s into unknown lands, and how I treers I had passed, and how easily I ht have lost my life, and thus forfeited the happiness that I kneas in store for ain would I leave my wife and child for the hazards of the sea
When I told Hartog of ratulations I took my boy on board the ”Golden Seahorse”, and presented hi, when he had sat Master Peter upon the table between us in the cabin ”He is a sturdy lad, and has the look in his eyes that seeks for space--the look of the sailor, whose natural home is the sea”
Could it be? Who can tell? Little Peter had a steadfast, far-off look in his eyes I had not noticed it until Hartog directed my attention to it Was it the call of the ocean? The call to the Dutch, and the English--seeking for space?