“When a lady goes out, she has usually four or more female slaves attending her, one of whom bears her betel-box. They are sumptuously adorned with gold and silver, and this ostentatious luxury the Indian ladies carry to a very great excess.
“The title of ‘My lady’ is given exclusively to the wives of councilors of India. The ladies are very fond of riding through the streets of the town in their carriages in the evening. Formerly, when Batavia was in a more flourishing condition, they were accompanied by musicians; but this is little customary at present—no more than rowing through the canals that intersect the town in little pleasure-boats: and the going upon these parties, which were equally enlivened by music, was called orangbayen.”
CHAPTER III.
OUR UNCLE’S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT.
I must now, as rapidly as possible, sketch the events of two years—events that led to our becoming wanderers in the wilds of Java. Well, about a month after our father’s funeral, the notary, Ebberfeld, read to us the will. By that testament, Uncle Adam had divided his fortune, including money, merchandise, houses—indeed, everything he had possessed—into two portions; the one to go absolutely to his daughter Marie, upon her reaching the age of twenty-one, the second to be divided equally between the widow and his brother. It was also willed that should Marie die unmarried, and the widow be survivor, that her portion should go to the latter. Further, ran the document, “Should my brother outlive my wife, then her share shall go to him; or, in the event of his demise, to his sons: but if my wife outlive my brother and his sons, Claud and Martin, then the portion of the latter shall pass absolutely to her.” It was further willed, that should our father die before the youngest of us boys reached the age of twenty-one, then the widow was to become our guardian.
“Uncle has been very good to us, Claud,” said Martin, the first moment we were alone after hearing the will read; “but I would rather be my own master without the money, than be under her guardianship, and have twice as much.”
“Why, Martin, I thought that, like me, you had begun to like our aunt?”
“Well, not to like her, but not to dislike her so much. However, that is neither here nor there; we sha’n’t be under her guardianship, but under that of Ebberfeld.”
“Nonsense, Martin! what can he have to do with us?”
“Everything, for he will marry her, and so be her master and ours.”
“How could you dream of such a thing, Martin?”