"Although he was willing to work at anything, he was almost perishing with want when I made his acquaintance. I took him into my service, and every order I gave was executed by him as implicitly as if he were obeying an imperative law of nature.
"One evening I had an appointment to meet several persons at the town hall; I took him with me, and said to him, 'Willem, wait here for me.'
"I entered and had a lengthy interview--forgot Willem, and left through another door.
"The next morning I came back to the town hall, and there stood Willem.
"'What are you doing there?' I asked.
"'Ik warte.'[5] said he.
"He had waited there all night, and would probably have waited the whole of that day, if I had not by chance come there.
"After that, we always called him 'Ik-warte.'"
We were so happy together. It was one of those moments that one wishes might be prolonged forever, and in which one dreads to move from his seat for fear of breaking the spell. Our happiness was, however, not to be of long duration.
The locksmith's widow came, bringing her children with her. They brought a pot of fine honey, and fresh garlands of daisies and violets.