She tried to seize them, she had already hastily rolled up the whole parcel together and was about to hide it under the coarse needlework with which they had been busy as the Chinaman came in. But her mother took it from her and quietly laid it upon the table before her. The voice of her husband was heard in the front gallery giving some orders to his servant, and that voice had startled the good woman out of the train of evil thoughts which had unconsciously risen up within her, and which had threatened to lead her astray from the path of duty. No, no, from the man by whose side she had courageously walked for the best part of her life, she could have no secret; from him, whom she had followed for so many years in weal and in woe, she would have nothing hidden. She determined to lay everything open before her husband, he might then act as he thought best. True, they were very poor; but she felt that she must abide by his decision.
All these thoughts, in a moment of time, flashed through the mind of this brave and loyal wife, and when Meidema walked into the back-gallery her mind was fully made up.
The girls jumped up to give their father the usual kiss, the mother also rose to welcome him. But Meidema saw, at a single glance, that there was something wrong. He put his hands on his wife’s shoulders and steadily looking her in the face he said cheerily: “I say, mammy dear—is there any news?”
“Yes, Meidema, there is,” replied his wife gravely, “sit down, I have something to tell you!”
“I say, old girl, you look very serious, are the girls in the way?”
“No, no, let them stay, I have no secrets that they may not hear—in fact I prefer them to be here.”
“My love, how solemn you are! Is there anything wrong? Anything to do with them eh? Have they had an offer? No? Of course not, you would not have looked so black if they had.”
“Now pray,” said his wife, “pray do not talk such nonsense.”
“Oh, I see, it must be those boys! they have been naughty—trousers torn, jackets in holes! Yes—those youngsters are an awful nuisance—Never mind all that will come right by-and-by.”
“All that will come right!”—At those words he stopped short, poor man! his interview with the Resident then came to his memory and he began restlessly to pace up and down the gallery. He took out his cigar-case and looked at Matilda.