ROTTERDAM
J. M. BREDÉE.
1914
For permission to give recitations or readings from this book, application should be made to the Publisher.
| Page. | |
| Chapter I. | |
| Where did O’Neill’s Dutch come from? | [1] |
| Chapter II. | |
| Some Characteristics of the CompendiousGuide to Dutch | [5] |
| Chapter III. | |
| How O’Neill learnt to pronounce | [14] |
| Chapter IV. | |
| An Interlude and an Application | [18] |
| Chapter V. | |
| The Wegwijzer on Dutch Syntax | [23] |
| Chapter VI. | |
| The Grammatical Caress | [29] |
| Chapter VII. | |
| A Gossipy Letter | [34] |
| Chapter VIII. | |
| The Surprises of the Maas | [44] |
| Chapter IX. | |
| The Thunderstorm | [55] |
| Chapter X. | |
| The Devoted Nurse | [68] |
| Chapter XI. | |
| Gossip and Diplomacy | [76] |
| Chapter XII. | |
| A Study in Character | [83] |
| Chapter XIII. | |
| Belet! | [97] |
| Chapter XIV. | |
| The Day-train | [104] |
| Chapter XV. | |
| Supper at a Boerderij | [112] |
| Epilogue | [129] |
CHAPTER I.
WHERE DID O’NEILL’S DUTCH COME FROM?
We had all heard something of Jack O’Neill’s adventures in Holland; and the members of our informal little club in Trinity College Dublin were positively thirsting for fresh details. There must be much more to tell, we felt sure: and we had a multitude of questions to ask.
Now the odd thing about O’Neill was that he didn’t like to be interrogated; he preferred to tell his story straight through in his own way. He had evidently studied hard at the Dutch language, but without the least regard for system: and it was clear that he had been by no means careful in the choice of text books. Indeed, he seemed to be rather sensitive on this point, no doubt regretting that, in the ardour of his early enthusiasm, he had just taken the first grammar and exercise-book he could lay his hands upon, without consulting anybody. It was that curious plan of doing everything by himself that doubtless led him into the initial mistake, that of trying to get any sense out of “Boyton and Brandnetel”.