As Joris sat smoking that night, he thought over his proposal; and then for the first time it struck him that the Middleburg cup might have a peculiar significance and value to Bram. It cost him an effort to put his vague suspicions into words, because by doing so he seemed to give shape and substance to shadows; but when Lysbet sat down with a little sigh of content beside him, and said, "A happy night is this to us, Joris," he answered, "God is good; always better to us than we trust Him for. I want to say now what I have been considering the last hour,—some other cup we will send to the little Joris, for I think Bram will like to have the Middleburg cup best of all."
"Always Bram has been promised the Guilderland cup and the server that goes with it."
"That is the truth; but I will tell you something, Lysbet. The Middelburg cup was given by the Jews of Middleburg to my ancestor because great favours and protection he gave them when he was mayor of the city. Bram is very often with Miriam Cohen, and"—
Then Joris stopped, and Lysbet waited anxiously for him to finish the sentence; but he only puffed, puffed, and looked thoughtfully at the bowl of his pipe.
"What mean you, Joris?"
"I think that he loves her."
"Well?"
"That he would like to marry her."
"Many things that are impossible, man would like to do: that is most impossible of all."
"You think so?"