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love。 As Professor van Dijck had expected and feared； that bribe ere long
was held out to Koosje； and Koosje was too weak to resist it。 Not that he
wished her to do so。 If the girl had a chance of settling well and happily
for life； he would be the last to dream of throwing any obstacle in her way。
He had come to be an old man himself； he lived all alone； save for his
servants； in a great； rambling house； whose huge apartments were all set
out with horrible anatomical preparations and grisly skeletons； and； though
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the stately passages were paved with white marble； and led into rooms
which would easily have accommodated crowds of guests； he went into no
society save that of savants as old and fossil…like as himself； in other
words； he was an old bachelor who lived entirely for his profession and
the study of the great masters by the interpretation of a genuine old
Stradivari。 Yet the old professor had a memory； he recalled the time when
he had been young who now was oldthe time when his heart was a good
deal more tender； his blood a great deal warmer； and his fancy very much
more easily stirred than nowadays。 There was a dead…and…gone romance
which had broken his heart； sentimentally speakinga romance long since
crumbled into dust； which had sent him for comfort into the study of
osteology and the music of the Stradivari； yet the memory thereof made
him considerably more lenient to Koosje's weakness than Koosje herself
had ever expected to find him。
Not that she had intended to tell him at first； she was only three and
twenty； and； though Jan van der Welde was as fine a fellow as could be
seen in Utrecht； and had good wages and something put by； Koosje was by
no means inclined to rush headlong into matrimony with undue hurry。 It
was more pleasant to live in the professor's good house； to have delightful
walks arm in arm with Jan under the trees in the Baan or round the Singels；
parting under the stars with many a lingering word and promise to meet
again。 It was during one of those very partings that the professor suddenly
became aware； as he walked placidly home； of the change that had come
into Koosje's life。
However； Koosje told him blushingly that she did not wish to leave
him just at present； so he did not trouble himself about the matter。 He was
a wise man； this old authority on osteology； and quoted oftentimes；
〃Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof。〃
So the courtship sped smoothly on； seeming for once to contradict the
truth of the old saying； 〃The course of true love never did run smooth。〃
The course of their love did； of a truth； run marvellously smooth indeed。
Koosje； if a trifle coy； was pleasant and sweet； Jan as fine a fellow as ever
waited round a corner on a cold winter night。 So brightly the happy days
slipped by； when suddenly a change was effected in the professor's
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household which made； as a matter of course； somewhat of a change in
Koosje's life。 It came about in this wise。
Koosje had been on an errand for the professor；one that had kept her
out of doors some time；and it happened that the night was bitterly cold；
the cold； indeed； was fearful。 The air had that damp rawness so noticeable
in Dutch climate； a thick mist overhung the city； and a drizzling rain came
down with a steady persistence such as quickly soaked through the
stoutest and thickest garments。 The streets were well…nigh empty。 The
great thoroughfare； the Oude Gracht； was almost deserted； and as Koosje
hurried along the Meinerbroederstraatfor she had a second commission
thereshe drew her great shawl more tightly round her； muttering crossly；
〃What weather！ yesterday so warm； to…day so cold。 'Tis enough to give
one the fever。〃
She delivered her message； and ran on through Oude Kerkhoff as fast
as her feet could carry her； when； just as she turned the corner into the
Domplein； a fierce gust of wind； accompanied by a blinding shower of
rain； assailed her； her foot caught against something soft and heavy； and
she fell。
〃Bless us！〃 she ejaculated； blankly。 〃What fool has left a bundle out on
the path on such a night？ Pitch dark； with half the lamps out； and rain and
mist enough to blind one。〃
She gathered herself up； rubbing elbows and knees vigorously； casting
the while dark glances at the obnoxious bundle which had caused the
disaster。 Just then the wind was lulled； the lamp close at hand gave out a
steady light； which shed its rays through the fog upon Koosje and the
bundle； from which； to the girl's horror and dismay； came a faint moan。
Quickly she drew nearer； when she perceived that what she had believed
to be a bundle was indeed a woman； apparently in the last stage of
exhaustion。
Koosje tried to lift her； but the dead…weight was beyond her； young
and strong as she was。 Then the rain and the wind came on again in fiercer
gusts than before； the woman's moans grew louder and louder； and what to
do Koosje knew not。
She struggled on for the few steps that lay between her and the
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professor's house； and then she rang a peal which resounded through the
echoing passages； bringing Dortje； the other maid； running out； after the
manner of her class； imagining all sorts of terrible catastrophes had
happened。 She uttered a cry of relief when she perceived it was only
Koosje； who； without vouchsafing any explanation； dashed past her and
ran straight into the professor's room。
〃O professor！〃 she gasped out； but； between her efforts to remove the
woman； her struggle with the elements； and her race down the passage； her
breath was utterly gone。
The professor looked up from his book and his tea…tray in surprise。 For
a moment he thought that Koosje； his domestic treasure； had altogether
taken leave of her senses； for she was streaming with water； covered with
mud； and head and cap were in a state of disorder； such as neither he nor
any one else had ever seen them in since the last time she had been fished
out of the Nieuw