the klokken-gespel should have chimed! That was no good, you know, Mynheer."

Vander Dordrecht was in a pitiable situation! Death and marriage stood foremost in his list of the calamities of life, but as he wished to clear his conscience with respect to Aaltje, believing her case to be hopeless, he resolved to go like a lamb to the slaughter. A messenger was dispatched to the pastor of his church, and every thing prepared for the performance of the sacred ceremony. When the priest arrived, Aaltje was led to the apartment supported by Katryn and Leena. The sacred service commenced, their vows were duly plighted, and the minister gave his blessing. Till now, Aaltje had preserved the appearance of illness.' . It was no longer necessary, as she had accomplished her desires, to continue it. She therfore threw off her langour, and

:

after formally thanking the priest for his services, turned to Vander Dordrecht, and assured him that she hoped to live long enough to see him take another jongeling to the doopfont before she rested in the family vault. ze norig The minister stood aghast with astonishment; and Vander Dordrecht looked like a statue of mute despair.

Why do you not thank his reverence, Mynheer," said Aaltje?" Or are you listening for Katryn's deadklok?"

“ Này, này, Aaltjenot exactly sof though you have taken me somewhat by surprize; and you cannot expect a man to walk up to the scaffold without remonstrating against the sentence that condemned him. As for Katryn, and her dream of the dood-klok, I know well now that it was no midnight phantasy; she was aye a cunning vrouw, as her old Bos could testify, God help

him, for he has had a wearisome time since she got the poor devil in her power."

"The same happiness to yourself, Mynheer," said Katryn casting a sly glance at the Burgomaster," and ye will do well not to forget the dream of the dood-klok, Mynheer, when mevrouw Aaltje has the hysterics again."

Aaltje soon taught Vander Dordrecht to appear at least satisfied with his metamorphosis. A married man has no alternative if such be the will of his wife, and Vander Dordrecht submitted in silence, like a criminal to the sentence of his judge.

CHAPTER VIII.

I hate

All obligation. Not that I'm dispor'd

To evil, but I love to have my way,

And cannot brook to check my inclinations,

And think that all the world is one great madhouse,
Wherein he's maddest, who would set things right.

This is in brief

All my philosophy, and my religion,

OEHLENSCHLAEGER.

THE apotheosis of Huyp, if I may be allowed the expression, appeared to his ardent imagination in the most vivid and glowing colours. He felt all the imaginative manifestations of happiness, which beamed full upon his soul like the resplendent rays of the noontide sun upon a flower just bursting its petals,

and springing forth in all the beauties of

nature.

At the court, Huyp soon, however, perceived that his fancied consequence was but a dream. A phantom, which his imagination had exhausted itself in delineating, and, which might eventually prove little better than a diabolization of life. He had anticipated pleasures which were not to be found, and felt a degree of mortification at being doomed to give up the society of the monarch for that of his fellow pages, and the ladies of the court.

Among the latter he soon found a friend. Huyp was a fine handsome youth, with but litte of the curse of modesty upon him, which at court is looked upon as a most contemptible qualification -appalling as the mark set upon Cain by offended Providence. In truth Huyp was any thing but bashful, and inherited from his mother, a propensity