"No, dear boy, not the least. Put the thought quite away from you."
The last of the rockets rushed up with a startling hiss, to burst in the black sky with a soft puff, and expire in a shower of brilliant sparks. Then it was all over. The band played "Wilhelmus of Nassau," and the dark throng surged and pressed more vehemently, while on all sides the street-boys whistled shrilly and shouted to one another: "J-a-a-a-n!" and "Gerrèt!"
Johannes, stunned by renewed pain, passed on through the cheering like one deafened and stupefied.
His hostess, now full of sympathy, said:
"Do you remember, Johannes, what we promised Father Canisius? He was to teach you who Jesus is, was he not? Will you go to church with me to-morrow? That will best console you."
A wicked thought passed through Johannes' head. He wished to ask a question, but he could not utter the hated name.
"Is any one else going?"
"Yes, the man to whom I am engaged. He also is now convinced that peace is only to be found in the Holy Church. He is Catholic, as are myself and my children."
Johannes said not another word that evening; but he slept more peacefully than the night before.