From Caen to Rotterdam, Chapter VIII [pp. 411-419]

FROMl CAEAN TO R07'7'EeRDA4l4.
carry back to France the results of her
toil. Wiristlets for Pitre, an embroidered
neckerchief for her aunt, and a double
quilt of eider-down for her grandmother.
The young man looked with much interest on these divers occupations, and
passed long hours by the side of Marthla's
wvork-table, telling her of Normandy, the
household wvays of the paternal dwvelling,
and trying to portray, one after another,
those to whom he was so fondly attached
there.
"I wish you would learn to love them,
too," he once said to Martha.
The blushing Martha returned the low
answer, " I love them already."
And now came urgent letters from the
partners of the mercantile house at Caen,
askiing the return of Claas. Monsieur
Bashrat, no longer young, soon learned
by the prolonged absence of his son, how
essential Claas had insensibly become to
the complicated business of the house.
Pitre was necessarily devoted to his
duties of interpreter, and Madame Jean
Bashrat, so competent as cashier in the
office and as bookkeeper, was hardly
equal to these varied employments, often
compelled as she was to remain by the
bedside of her mother-in-law as nutrse.
She had not confided to her husband the
vague project conceived in the mind of
Claas. She wished to gain time for the
confession, so that her chief endeavor
now was to convince the several interested parties in Caen, that the long stay
of her son in Holland was essential to
the furtherance of his plans. M. Baserat
groaned with disappointment, and would
not suffer himself to be persuaded. Letter after letter was dispatched to his son,
filled with earnest requests for his return, until the young man became first
troubled, and then annoyed at their frequency.
By nature modest and unobtrusive
himself, Claas well understood the reserved, proud nature of the woman whom
he loved. Nor did he for a moment feel
assured of the fulfillment of his hope,
even should he summon courage to speak
of it to its object. At length, however,
he made a resolve to speak to his Aunt
Madeleine. Before this visit to Holland
Claas had often experienced a kind of
jealous feeling toward his cousin William, wlhose name held so dear a place in
the childish remembrance of Pitre. As
he now watched Marthla, however, busying herself in company with her cousins,
in preparing packages of gifts for the
absent soldier, wvithout any special timidity or excitement, he ceased to cherish
any ill bodings as to a rival. Madame
Paris had never spoken of her secret
wish in regard to her nephewv, however
much her thotlght might dwell uponI it.
But she was not surprised at Claas saying to her one morning:
"My father insists upon my speedy return home, and I know that he needs my
services; but how am I to a —rrange my
matters in good order here, aunt?"
"Are not thy journeys completed, and
the cargoes ready for shipment and sailing?" inquired Madame Paris, with malicious innocence. Claas made a quick,
impatient movement.
"All my business negotiations are prosperotusly finished," said he; "but, Aunt
Madeleine, you have not permitted me to
firequent your home, and live for so many
'weeks among your children without divininig part, at least, of my motive."
A frank smile lighted utip the face of
Madame Paris.
"No, my boy; you are right," replied
she. "Yet I can not tell what counsel
to give thee albout Marthla. She is very
quiet and self-repressed, like my sister, to
to whomi she belonged. Were I in your
place I would venture all in a candid
confession to herself. It is the only way
to draw out her true feeling."
Claas's color rose. "It is a great risk,"
he murmured.
Madame Paris smiled, as she answered:
"Not at all. You may be sure that
before this time she has made utip her
mind as to what is her wish, and her answver will not be given at random. She
reminds me of my mother. I have never
seen any other person who could so entirely command herself as Martha. And
i876.]
4I3