“That is the very case!” cried Mrs. van Gulpendam, “I was recommending him to—”
“Well, then you see,” said Anna, quietly, as she interrupted her mother, “you see clearly there must be some misunderstanding—all that will very easily be explained. Tell me, pray, what condition did you propose to van Nerekool?”
“Yes,” said Laurentia slowly after a moment’s pause, “you are the only one who can arrange this matter. And, pray remember, that this is a question upon which depends van Nerekool’s future career—and your own marriage.”
And then, the proud ambitious woman told her daughter that she was bent upon obtaining for her husband the order of the Netherland’s Lion; that this distinction, however, would not be got unless the returns of the opium trade at Santjoemeh improved considerably—that in fact the Virtus nobilitat was to be the price for the increase in the revenue of Holland.
“But,” continued Laurentia, “in order to make that increase possible, Lim Yang Bing must continue to hold the opium monopoly—and that he must cease to do if his son Lim Ho be found guilty of smuggling and of outrage upon the natives. Therefore we are under the cruel necessity—!”
As her mother began to speak Anna listened attentively; as she continued, the girl sat with her eyes fixed on her mother’s lips as though she would read the words before she uttered them; at these last words, she flew up wild and furious and passionately broke in upon Laurentia’s speech: “Ardjan is to be sacrificed, that my father may get the Netherland’s Lion—that never—no, mother, do you hear me, that cannot—that shall not be!”
“But, Anna!” exclaimed Laurentia much alarmed at her daughter’s violence, “pray do not excite yourself so!”
“And did you make that proposal to Charles?—Yes? Oh, then I am wretched indeed!”
“But, Anna—” Laurentia began to say.
“Now I understand his ‘never,’ ” said the girl bitterly. “No, he is right, never, never shall he marry the daughter of such parents as mine!”