Well, they got a handful of silver for them; the devil had the worst o' yon bargain.There, father, that is off my mind; often Ilonged to tell it some one, but I durst not to the women; or Margaret would not have had a friend left in the world; for those two black-hearted villains are the favourites, 'Tis always so.
Have not the old folk just taken a brave new shop for them in this very town, in the Hoog Straet? There may you see their sign, a gilt sheep and a lambkin; a brace of wolves sucking their dam would be nigher the mark.And there the whole family feast this day; oh, 'tis a fine world.What, not a word, holy father; you sit there like stone, and have not even a curse to bestow on them, the stony-hearted miscreants.What, was it not enough the poor lad was all alone in a strange land; must his own flesh and blood go and lie away the one blessing his enemies had left him? And then think of her pining and pining all these years, and sitting at the window looking adown the street for Gerard! and so constant, so tender, and true: my wife says she is sure no woman ever loved a man truer than she loves the lad those villains have parted from her; and the day never passes but she weeps salt tears for him.
And when I think, that, but for those two greedy lying knaves, yon winsome lad, whose life I saved, might be by her side this day the happiest he in Holland; and the sweet lass, that saved my life, might be sitting with her cheek upon her sweetheart's shoulder, the happiest she in Holland in place of the saddest; oh, I thirst for their blood, the nasty, sneaking, lying, cogging, cowardly, heartless, bowelless - how now?"The monk started wildly up, livid with fury and despair, and rushed headlong from the place with both hands clenched and raised on high.So terrible was this inarticulate burst of fury, that Jorian's puny ire died out at sight of it, and he stood looking dismayed after the human tempest he had launched.
While thus absorbed he felt his arm grasped by a small, tremulous hand.
It was Margaret Brandt.
He started; her coming there just then seemed so strange.She had waited long on Peter's tombstone, but the friar did not come, So she went into the church to see if he was there still.She could not find him.
Presently, going up the south aisle, the gigantic shadow of a friar came rapidly along the floor and part of a pillar, and seemed to pass through her.She was near screaming; but in a moment remembered Jorian's shadow had come in so from the churchyard; and tried to clamber out the nearest way.She did so, but with some difficulty; and by that time Clement was just disappearing down the street; yet, so expressive at times is the body as well as the face, she could see he was greatly agitated.
Jorian and she looked at one another, and at the wild figure of the distant friar.
"Well?" said she to Jorian, trembling.
"Well," said he, "you startled me.How come you here of all people?""Is this a time for idle chat? What said he to you? He has been speaking to you; deny it not.""Girl, as I stand here, he asked me whereabout you were buried in this churchyard.""Ah!"
"I told him, nowhere, thank Heaven: you were alive and saving other folk from the churchyard.""Well?"