Barbara had retired when Peter at last appeared, so weary that he could scarcely touch the meal that had been kept ready for him.  While raising the food to his lips, he confirmed the news Maria had already heard from the musician, and was gentle and kind, but his appearance saddened her, for it recalled Barbara’s allusion to the heavy burden he had assumed.  To-day, for the first time, she noticed two deep lines that anxiety had furrowed between his eyes and lips, and full of tender compassion, went behind him, laid her hands on his cheeks and kissed him on the forehead.  He trembled slightly, seized her slender right hand so impetuously that she shrank back, raised it first to his lips, then to his eyes, and held it there for several minutes.

At last he rose, passed before her into his sleeping-room, bade her an affectionate good-night, and lay down to rest.  When she too sought her bed, he was breathing heavily.  Extreme fatigue had quickly overpowered him.  The slumber of both was destined to be frequently interrupted during this night, and whenever Maria woke, she heard her husband sigh and moan.  She did not stir, that she might not disturb the sleep he sought and needed, and twice held her breath, for he was talking to himself.  First he murmured softly:  “Heavy, too heavy,” and then:  “If I can only bear it.”

When she awoke next morning, he had already left the room and gone to the town-hall.  At noon he returned home, saying that the Spaniards had taken the Hague and been hailed with delight by the pitiful adherents of the king.  Fortunately, the well-disposed citizens and Beggars had had time to escape to Delft, for brave Nicolas Ruichhaver had held the foe in check for a time at Geestburg.  The west was still open, and the newly-fortified fort of Valkenburg, garrisoned by the English soldiers, would not be so easy to storm.  On the east, other British auxiliaries were posted at Alfen in the Spaniards’ rear.

The burgomaster told all this unasked, but did not speak as freely and naturally as when conversing with men.  While talking, he often looked into his plate and hesitated.  It seemed as if he were obliged to impose a certain restraint upon himself, in order to speak before women, servants, and children, of matters he was in the habit of discussing only with men of his own position.  Maria listened attentively, but maintained a modest reserve, urging him only by loving looks and sympathizing exclamations, while Barbara boldly asked one question after another.

The meal was approaching an end, when Junker von Warmond entered unannounced, and requested the burgomaster to accompany him at once, for Colonel Chester was standing before the White Gate with a portion of his troops, asking admittance to the city.

At these tidings, Peter dashed his mug of beer angrily on the table, sprang from his seat, and left the room before the nobleman.