The Bow of Orange Ribbon - Page 22/189

Lysbet was already in her place; so was Joanna, and also Bram; and a

slim black girl called Dinorah was handing around fricasseed chicken and

venison steaks, hot fritters and johnny-cake; while the rich Java berry

filled the room with an aroma of tropical life, and suggestions of the

spice-breathing coasts of Sunda. Joris and Bram discussed the business

of the day; Katherine was full of her visit to Semple House the

preceding evening. Dinorah was no restraint. The slaves Joris owned,

like those of Abraham, were born or brought up in his own household;

they held to all the family feelings with a faithful, often an

unreasonable, tenacity.

And yet, this morning, Joris waited until Lysbet dismissed her handmaid,

before he said the words he had determined to speak ere he began the

work of the day. Then he put down his cup with an emphasis which made

all eyes turn to him, and said,-"Katrijntje, my daughter, call not to-day, nor call not any day, until

I tell you different, at Madam Semple's. The people who go and come

there, I like them not. They will be no good to you. Lysbet, what say

you in this matter?"

"What you say, I say, Joris. The father is to be obeyed. When he will

not, the children can not."

"Joanna, what say you?"

"I like best of all things to do your pleasure, father."

"And you, Bram?"

"As for me, I think you are very right. I like not those English

officers,--insolent and proud men, all of them. It would have been a

great pleasure to me to strike down the one who yesterday spurned with

his spurred boot our good neighbour Jacob Cohen, for no reason but that

he was a Jew"-"Heigho! go softly, Bram. That which burns thee not, cool not."

"As he passed our store door where I stood, he said 'devil,' but he

meant me."

"Only God knows what men mean. Now, then, little one, thy will is my

will, is it not?"

She had drawn her chair close to her father's, and taken his big hand

between her own, and was stroking and petting it as he spoke; and, ere

she answered, she leaned her head upon his breast.

"Father, I like to see the English lady; and she is teaching me the new

stitch."

"Schoone Lammetje! There are many other things far better for thee to

learn; for instance, to darn the fine Flemish lace, and to work the

beautiful 'clocks' on thy stockings, and to make perfect thy Heidelberg

and thy Confession of Faith. In these things, the best of all good

teachers is thy mother."