Part 140 (1/2)

”Ghysbrecht,” said Margaret, weeping, ”since he hath forgiven thee, I forgive thee too: what is done, is done; and thou hast let me know this day that which I had walked the world to hear. But oh, burgomaster, thou art an understanding man, now help a poor woman, which hath forgiven thee her misery.”

She then told him all that had befallen; ”And,” said she, ”they will not keep the living for him for ever. He bids fair to lose that, as well as break all our hearts.”

”Call my servant,” cried the burgomaster, with sudden vigour.

He sent him for a table and writing materials, and dictated letters to the burgomasters in all the princ.i.p.al towns in Holland, and one to a Prussian authority, his friend. His clerk, and Margaret, wrote them, and he signed them. ”There,” said he, ”the matter shall be despatched throughout Holland by trusty couriers; and as far as Basle in Switzerland; and fear not, but we will soon have the vicar of Gouda to his village.”

She went home animated with fresh hopes, and accusing herself of ingrat.i.tude to Gerard. ”I value my wealth now,” said she.

She also made a resolution never to blame his conduct, till she should hear from his own lips his reasons.

Not long after her return from Tergou, a fresh disaster befell.

Catherine, I must premise, had secret interviews with the black sheep, the very day after they were expelled; and Cornelis followed her to Tergou, and lived there on secret contribution; but Sybrandt chose to remain in Rotterdam. Ere Catherine left, she asked Margaret to lend her two gold angels; ”For,” said she, ”all mine are spent.” Margaret was delighted to lend them or give them; but the words were scarce out of her mouth, ere she caught a look of regret and distress on Kate's face; and she saw directly whither her money was going. She gave Catherine the money, and went and shut herself up with her boy. Now this money was to last Sybrandt till his mother could make some good excuse for visiting Rotterdam again; and then she would bring the idle dog some of her own industrious sc.r.a.pings.

But Sybrandt, having gold in his pocket, thought it inexhaustible; and, being now under no shadow of restraint, led the life of a complete sot; until one afternoon, in a drunken frolic, he climbed on the roof of the stable at the inn he was carousing in, and proceeded to walk along it, a feat he had performed many times when sober. But now his unsteady brain made his legs unsteady, and he rolled down the roof and fell with a loud thwack on to a horizontal paling, where he hung a moment in a semicircle: then toppled over and lay silent on the ground, amidst roars of laughter from his boon companions.

When they came to pick him up he could not stand; but fell down giggling at each attempt.

On this they went staggering and roaring down the street with him, and carried him at great risk of another fall, to the shop in the Hoog Straet. For he had babbled his own shame all over the place.

As soon as he saw Margaret he hiccupped out, ”Here is the doctor that cures all hurts; a bonny la.s.s.” He also bade her observe he bore her no malice, for he was paying her a visit, sore against his will.

”Wherefore, prithee send away these drunkards; and let you and me have t'other gla.s.s, to drown all unkindness.”

All this time Margaret was pale and red by turns at sight of her enemy and at his insolence. But one of the men whispered what had happened, and a streaky something in Sybrandt's face arrested her attention.

”And he cannot stand up, say you?”

”A couldn't just now. Try, comrade! Be a man now!”

”I am a better man than thou,” roared Sybrandt. ”I'll stand up and fight ye all for a crown.”

He started to his feet, and instantly rolled into his attendant's arms with a piteous groan. He then began to curse his boon companions, and declare they had stolen away his legs. ”He could feel nothing below the waist.”

”Alas, poor wretch,” said Margaret. She turned very gravely to the men, and said, ”Leave him here. And if you have brought him to this, go on your knees; for you have spoiled him for life. He will never walk again: his back is broken.”

The drunken man caught these words, and the foolish look of intoxication fled, and a glare of anguish took its place. ”The curse,” he groaned; ”the curse!”

Margaret and Reicht Heynes carried him carefully, and laid him on the softest bed.

”I must do as _he_ would do,” whispered Margaret. ”He was kind to Ghysbrecht.”

Her opinion was verified. Sybrandt's spine was fatally injured; and he lay groaning, and helpless, fed and tended by her he had so deeply injured.

The news was sent to Tergou; and Catherine came over.

It was a terrible blow to her. Moreover she accused herself as the cause. ”Oh, false wife, oh, weak mother,” she cried. ”I am rightly punished for my treason to my poor Eli.”

She sat for hours at a time by his bedside rocking herself in silence; and was never quite herself again; and the first grey hairs began to come in her poor head from that hour.

As for Sybrandt, all his cry was now for Gerard. He used to whine to Margaret like a suffering hound, ”Oh, sweet Margaret, oh, bonny Margaret, for our Lady's sake find Gerard, and bid him take his curse off me. Thou art gentle, thou art good; thou wilt entreat for me, and he will refuse thee nought.” Catherine shared his belief that Gerard could cure him, and joined her entreaties to his. Margaret hardly needed this.