CHAPTER XLVII
CATHERINE was a good housewife who seldom left home for a day, and then one thing or another always went amiss. She was keenly conscious of this, and, watching for a slack tide in things domestic, put off her visit to Sevenbergen from day to day, and one afternoon that it really could have been managed Peter Buyskens' mule was out of the way.
At last, one day Eli asked her before all the family, whether it was true she had thought of visiting Margaret Brandt.
"Ay, my man."
"Then I do forbid you."
"Oh, do you?"
"I do."
"Then there is no more to be said, I suppose," said she, colouring.
"Not a word," replied Eli, sternly.