"He had always a high, hopeful heart," replied the Countess, "and a very gallant way of cheerfulness. God grant that it be not overthrown nor dimmed."
"The House of Nassau," said the preacher, "is greatly blessed by all the poor people of these unhappy provinces—in that noble name alone," he added, with reverence, "they place their hopes."
"My sons can do much, not everything," answered Juliana of Stolberg. "The people too are valiant and patient, and fearful of God—give credit to the people and to such men as yourself, sir."
"I?" he exclaimed, in genuine astonishment. "I am as helpless before Alva as a straw before the wind!"
Hoogstraaten's wife spoke; her voice was grave, in tone like that of the Admiral, her brother.
"But you have been in great peril, there is a price on your head, and yet you stayed?"
"Ah, that, yes," he admitted simply, as if these things were a matter of course.
"Why did you stay?" asked Catherine van der Berg earnestly.
"It was the land where I was sent to labour, Madame, and perhaps I have been some use—to comfort one on his way to martyrdom, to console the bereaved, to utter a prayer over an unconsecrated grave, to encourage the soldiers of Prince William."
His expression became sad and thoughtful, and he bent his head as if it was heavy.