then raised her hand, disengaged the ribbons, and reached them to him. He kissed her hand, and warmly embraced her; and then they wandered home, muttering the soft, honied words of love under the gentle mantle of the evening gloom. The next day George sailed away, and in Rotterdam excitement began to arise on the approaching marriages. It would be foreign to our purpose to describe these ceremonies with minuteness, now that events are hastening our return to English soil, and to more serious doings. The two weddings took place in the large St. Lawrence Dutch church, lent for the occasion. The grand old cathedral, with its ancient monuments, was lighted up by bright sunshine. A vast number of Dutch people of all ranks, with the body of English residents, filled the ample area. The two bridal processions entered by either aisle, and showed richly as they grouped round both sides of the communion table. The splendid organ pealed forth its soft rushing music, while now and then the deeper notes rolled Cound the edifice, making the very stone pillars to tremble. Luther's Hymn was sung by the whole body of people, as they waited for the service to open, with the grandest effect. Then there was a sudden silence of eager expectation as the brides and bridegrooms took their places, and the good Pastor, Bridge, poured out his heart in prayers and exhortations on this delightful occasion. The Fleming, outwardly composed, but full of sensitive feeling, watched Gabrielle, to anticipate every want. he whispered at the close "My own!" Gabrielle looked fondly at him, saying, "Alas! I have always felt unworthy. of you, I feel it still." Weddings are said to be seed-plots of fresh engagements. Soon after these important events, Mijnheer Koop called on the Pastor, accompanied by a handsome youth, son of the Burgemeester, and richest merchant in the city,-Hans Hoboken. The old gentleman introduced his young friend as having been desperately smitten with the charms of the English Rector's daughter. The swain said little himself, but Koop made up for his silence. "I wish I was young myself, sir," he said, "for I never knew so charming a friend: she is as beautiful as she is good. I hope, sir, her heart is her own at present? You will allow us to see her, and plead with herself? You have no objection, I hope? She will be richly provided, made very happy, and allowed to be in England a good part of the year. Oh, I will take good care of her, and my friend will be a good husband. Reken op mij (count on me)." Mr. Bridge, rather taken aback, cordially expressed his sense of this unexpected honour. It was not the English way to bias the lady's choice. She would be too bashful to see both gentlemen. If it were Herr Koop only !—" She loves you, sir, like a second father; but let me prepare the way, and in a short time she will give an explicit answer." Both gentlemen thanked the Rector for his kindness, but Koop begged hard to see Alice himself; so his companion withdrew, and presently Alice came to her old friend. "Liebchen," said he, taking her hand, "I feel like a sort of father to you after all our work together." "I am sure," replied Alice, no one could have acted more like one ;—indeed, I am happy to be your daughter." Ah, very good!—then good daughters take their fathers' advice, and I want to make my daughter a Dutch woman." Well, I am half a Dutch woman in heart.” 66 "Very good indeed! Then you have a heart?" "Surely I hope so." "You know what I mean. There is a fine young friend of mine-son of our richest merchant, young Hoboken-who loves you, and will be miserable if you will not accept him. Waarlijk-geloof mij (truly-believe me).” "But I hardly know him, my friend." “Will you let him see you, and learn to know him better? I assure you he is good stuff, and comes of as good a stock as any in Rotterdam.” “But I am only a poor exile, and my father a poor man, ruined with persecution." “Ah, my dear, you shall not be so poor. I am your father, and I have no children; and whether you marry Hans or not, you shall have a good share of what I have. Now, do think of it, and believe that I love you; and consent to see Hans, and make him happy." “My dear friend, you overwhelm me. Is it you or Hans Hoboken who loves me? If it were you, I could hardly deny you anything; and if it is he, I must tell my father a secret,—I fear he comes too late! Dear sir, you have seen Colonel Sherwood,—we have been friends from youth.” “Ah, sets the wind in that quarter? Spreekt ge in ernst? (Are you in earnest ?) I must be getting blind. He is a fine fellow, and, as I hear, has proved a brave soldier. Well, I fear Hans must give it up, and not risk a heartbreak. Your Colonel may get more blows than riches in the wars, --so recollect I am your father, and will see to the dowry." Here she kissed his hand, and he her forehead, and so the interview closed; and Alice refused her rich lover, but she gained a second father. Matters went on steadily for some time, when one day the English colony was startled by the appearance of John Allen, who had paid a visit to Norwich, and now returned. He seemed brimful of delight, and waved his hat, shouting, “Hark, friends!—a Parliament is summoned, and you may all come home! Here are letters from the Colonel and his father, and from Dr. Hope, to certify what I say. So let's have a good English hurrah!" At his words, as by a spell, the English exiles gathered fast, and they listened and gazed and shook hands, and then joined in lusty hurrahs which woke up the place. A council was speedily convened to read the letters and consider what to do. It appeared that the Scotch invasion was over, the King having made peace at Berwick. The elections had already been in favour of the most popular leaders. Parliament had assembled on the 13th April, 1639, and its first utterances were very cautious, but there seemed every hope of liberty reviving. With regard to Norwich, things had greatly changed. At the first idea of a Parliament, the Bishop shut himself up in the Palace all the time of the election, in which the Puritans gained a complete victory. George told how Edward retained his living, and was busy in his work, and likely to be unmolested; and May Hope wrote to Alice, she "thought he was rather ashamed of his former tutor and of Stephen Wren, who had turned out a thorough libertine and sot. She thought these emetics had somewhat cleared Edward's constitution, and that, after all, he was as fine a fellow as his brother at the bottom." At first there was one eager wish among the exiles to return in a few days; but then they found a scrap of a note from Cromwell, enclosed by George, which ran as follows: "Beloved of the Lord, be wary ;-reaction is setting in;-see you are not caught in the recoil of the spring. This winter is like to see an early dissolution. The Court does not yet feel its real helplessness. The patriots are hardly awake. Things will be worse before they are better. Do not go before Providence, but wait upon it." This sagacious warning made all resolve to wait the turn of events. Nevertheless, they all began to talk and prepare, as if the long-looked-for signal were not far off; and the longer the crisis was delayed, the more decisive it was sure to be. CHAPTER XXXI. GERHARDT CATCHES A DOVE. “Und nur das Herz dem bittere Thränen Trägt einen Schatz in seinem Grunde Drum klage nicht wenn Thränen quellen NORDHEIM. NE day as Alice was calling at the house of her worthy friend Koop, she heard English voices in his outer office which struck her as familiar; and when the old man came to her, she asked him who they were. “Ah!” he replied, "more refugees ;-two gentlemen from Norwich, with excellent recommendations, the elder, Dr. French, who wishes to enquire into our Dutch religious parties; and a young officer, Captain Drake, who wants to go to the armies on the Rhine. They will stay here for awhile. I have asked them to dine. Do you know them, liebchen?” "I recognize their voices. If so, they are giving false names, and they will be far from welcome visitors to the English here." “Now, liebchen, I wish I had waited, and not been so hospitable; but I seem to welcome anything in the shape of an Englishman. Wait!--they are leaving me for a time: I |