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any one else had ever seen them in since the last time she had been fished
out of the Nieuwe Gracht。
〃What is the matter； Koosje？〃 he asked； regarding her gravely over his
spectacles。
〃There's a woman outsidedying；〃 she panted； 〃I fell over her。〃
〃You had better try to get her in then；〃 the old gentleman said； in quite
a relieved tone。 〃You and Dortje must bring her in。 Dear； dear； poor soul！
but it is a dreadful night。〃
The old gentleman shivered as he spoke； and drew a little nearer to the
tall white porcelain stove。
It was； as he had said a minute before； a terrible night。 He could hear
the wind beating about the house and rattling about the casements and
moaning down the chimneys； and to think any poor soul should be out on
such a night； /dying/！ Heaven preserve others who might be belated or
houseless in any part of the world！
He fell into a fit of abstraction；a habit not uncommon with learned
men；wondering why life should be so different with different people；
why he should be in that warm； handsome room； with its soft rich
hangings and carpet； with its beautiful furniture of carved wood； its
pictures； and the rare china scattered here and there among the grim array
of skeletons which were his delight。 He wondered why he should take his
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tea out of costly and valuable Oriental china； sugar and cream out of
antique silver； while other poor souls had no tea at all； and nothing to take
it out of even if they had。 He wondered why he should have a lamp under
his teapot that was a very marvel of art transparencies； why he should
have every luxury； and this poor creature should be dying in the street
amid the wind and the rain。 It was all very unequal。
It was very odd； the professor argued； leaning his back against the tall；
warm stove； it was very odd indeed。 He began to feel that； grand as the
study of osteology undoubtedly is； he ought not to permit it to become so
engrossing as to blind him to the study of the greater philosophies of life。
His reverie was； however； broken by the abrupt reentrance of Koosje； who
this time was a trifle less breathless than she had been before。
〃We have got her into the kitchen； professor；〃 she announced。 〃She is a
childa mere baby； and so pretty！ She has opened her eyes and spoken。〃
〃Give her some soup and winehot；〃 said the professor； without
stirring。
〃But won't you come？〃 she asked。
The professor hesitated； he hated attending in cases of illness； though
he was a properly qualified doctor and in an emergency would lay his
prejudice aside。
〃Or shall I run across for the good Dr。 Smit？〃 Koosje asked。 〃He
would come in a minute； only it is /such/ a night！〃
At that moment a fiercer gust than before rattled at the casements； and
the professor laid aside his scruples。
He followed his housekeeper down the chilly； marble…flagged passage
into the kitchen； where he never went for months togethera cosey enough；
pleasant place； with a deep valance hanging from the mantel… shelf； with
many great copper pans； bright and shining as new gold； and furniture all
scrubbed to the whiteness of snow。
In an arm…chair before the opened stove sat the rescued girla slight；
golden…haired thing； with wistful blue eyes and a frightened air。 Every
moment she caught her breath in a half…hysterical sob； while violent
shivers shook her from head to foot。
The professor went and looked at her over his spectacles； as if she had
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been some curious specimen of his favourite study； but at the same time
he kept at a respectful distance from her。
〃Give her some soup and wine；〃 he said； at length； putting his hands
under the tails of his long dressing…gown of flowered cashmere。 〃Some
soup and winehot； and put her to bed。〃
〃Is she then to remain for the night？〃 Koosje asked； a little surprised。
〃Oh； don't send me away！〃 the golden…haired girl broke out； in a voice
that was positively a wail； and clasping a pair of pretty； slender hands in
piteous supplication。
〃Where do you come from？〃 the old gentleman asked； much as if he
expected she might suddenly jump up and bite him。
〃From Beijerland； mynheer；〃 she answered； with a sob。
〃So！ Koosje； she is remarkably well dressed； is she not？〃 the professor
said； glancing at the costly lace head…gear； the heavy gold head…piece；
which lay on the table together with the great gold spiral ornaments and
filigree pendantsa dazzling head of richness。 He looked； too； at the girl's
white hands； at the rich； crape…laden gown； at their delicate beauty； and
shower of waving golden hair； which； released from the confinement of
the cap and head…piece； floated in a rich mass of glittering beauty over the
pillows which his servant had placed beneath her head。
The professor was old； the professor was wholly given up to his
profession； which he jokingly called his sweetheart； and； though he cut
half of his acquaintances in the street through inattention and the shortness
of his sight； he had eyes in his head； and upon occasions could use them。
He therefore repeated the question。
〃Very well dressed indeed； professor；〃 returned Koosje； promptly。
〃And what are you doing in Utrechtin such a plight as this； too？〃 he
asked； still keeping at a safe distance。
〃O mynheer； I am all alone in the world；〃 she answered； her blue misty
eyes filled with tears。 〃I had a month ago a dear； good； kind father； but he
has died； and I am indeed desolate。 I always believed him rich； and to
these things；〃 with a gesture that included her dress and the ornaments on
the table； 〃I have ever been accustomed。 Thus I ordered without
consideration such clothes as I thought needful。 And then I found there
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was nothing for menot a hundred guilders to call my own when all was
paid。〃
〃But what brought you to Utrecht？〃
〃He sent me here； mynheer。 In his last illness； only of three days'
duration； he bade me gather all together and come to th