Yes, now he had it! They considered him a little daft and wanted to cure him of his fixed idea. That would explain the visit to the theatre and also Femke's alleged unwillingness to come with Uncle Sybrand. But--how did she dare to interfere with the policeman? And the greeting from the emperor? And how did Holsma know that he had "denied" Femke, and that her presence could threaten his peace of mind?

"Oh, M'neer, let Femke sit here! I will be perfectly quiet. I am so afraid she will get hurt up there among those men."

Holsma looked at him wistfully. After all, could Kaatje have been right about it? He sought to distract Walter's attention by referring to other things; but it was useless.

"All right," said Holsma at last "I just wanted to tease you a little. Femke is sitting up there, because she--doesn't wish to sit here. She thinks that it wouldn't be proper, because she's only a wash-girl. She's afraid we would be ashamed. You see?"

"M'neer, no one need be ashamed to sit by her. Not even the emperor."

"Yes, yes," agreed Holsma. "Quite so. Femke is a brave girl and doesn't need to cringe before anybody. Watch the play, my boy."

Walter was willing to do what the doctor said, but not without taking leave of that glorious apparition. He looked up; and she smiled to him again. Then she took from her breast a rose branch, with three buds on it, held it a moment between the forefinger and thumb of her left hand, pointed to Walter with her right and let it fall.

The rosebuds landed on the bald pate of a stout gentleman near the Holsma party. He seized them and examined them admiringly; but, before he could decide what to do with them, Walter had sprung over half a dozen chairs and deprived him of the precious property. With a glance toward Olympus, Walter pressed the roses to his lips. Princess Erika nodded approval; and the playful countess-palatine applauded l.u.s.tily.

That was more than Walter could bear. He had never forgiven himself for denying her; but she, the n.o.ble, the big-hearted, the majestic one!--she had proclaimed her pardon publicly before the people. And that was why she preferred to sit in the gallery. She had washed away the black spots from his soul; she had restored his soiled chivalry. These thoughts flashed through Walter's mind like lightning.

He sank to the floor in a faint. But was it any wonder?

The Holsmas took him home with them for the night; and another message was sent to Juffrouw Pieterse.

"Don't you see, Stoffel? Just as I said! I don't care if everybody knows it. He's simply living at Dr. Holsma's. Trudie, don't forget when Leentje goes to the grocer's---- Upon my soul, he's at Dr. Holsma's all the time!"

CHAPTER x.x.xIII

The next morning, Sunday, the doctor invited Walter into his study. He spoke to him sympathetically and encouraged the boy to lay his case before him; though he avoided everything that might make Walter believe that his experiences were anything extraordinary. He already knew more about it than Walter could tell. Even Walter's adventure with Juffrouw Laps was perfectly transparent to him. There was nothing lost to him because of the boy's lack of skill in handling the story.

While Walter poured out to him his inner experiences, Holsma listened quietly, as if it was all familiar to him. Walter's reverence and pa.s.sion for the good he interpreted as a commonplace phenomenon incident to budding youth. He treated the boy's love for Femke as an ordinary matter. He admitted that it had been exactly the same way with him when he was a boy--a method that few parents and educators seem to be familiar with.

"Certainly, certainly, my boy. In such moods a fellow would like to be everywhere at the same time, ruling, regulating and putting things into order. He feels that he's responsible for everything; and it hurts him to see so much crookedness in the world. I know very well how it is. But you must consider the means and remedies at your disposal. How are you going to begin to improve things?"

Walter was silent.

"Do you think that everyone is bad? I suppose you hardly think that. There are plenty of people in the world who wish for the same things that you are worrying about. Why don't they change the world?"

Again Walter was silent. The very simplicity with which Holsma put the question disconcerted him.

"I will try to help you out. Do you believe that I am a good man?"

"Oh, yes!" cried Walter enthusiastically.

"You think so? Well, I think so too. I should be ashamed not to be able to say that. Why don't I reform the world? You often speak of Africa. That's because you don't know that country, my boy. And I, who am a good man, have not abolished slavery. Why not, do you suppose?"

Walter returned no answer. Holsma was busy with a surgical operation. Is it any wonder that the patient tried to withdraw the member that was being cut away?

"I will present the matter to you differently. Do you hear that knocking and hammering? Listen! That comes from the blacksmith's shop over there. It isn't so bad on Sunday; but you can easily imagine that the noise sometimes disturbs me."

"In case of sickness!"

"Yes, and also when I wish to think. And then I should like to see the blacksmiths swept away--quick--just like that! But why don't I do it?"

"Because--because you can't, M'neer."

"Quite right. For the same reason I have not yet corrected any of the wrongs in Africa. Nor in Asia; nor in America; nor in other countries that I might mention. But yesterday evening, when you were taken sick in the theatre, I brought you home with me and put you to bed. Then I sent a messenger to quiet your mother. That was my duty, wasn't it?

"No thanks, my boy. It seemed to me to be my duty; and I did it--because I could. Whatever is impossible, is not my duty; and that's the reason I don't take those blacksmiths between my thumb and forefinger and transport them to some other clime. For the same reason I don't fret over doings in Africa. Impossible duty is no duty; and running after the impossible interferes with the performance of real duties. At school did you ever fail to know a lesson?"

"Oh yes, very often! But not lately; because Femke----"

"Leave Femke out of account for the present. I may say something about her another time. When you were neglecting your books at school, you were thinking of other things, things far removed from your work.

"That is a mistake that many young people make--don't be offended: I did the same thing--and usually on account of laziness. It is more convenient to imagine one's self soaring over the distant mountain top than to lift a foot and step over the stone just in front of one. Of all the million things that you would like to do there are only a very few that you can do. Busy yourself with these few. That is the way to succeed. Whatever comes up, always ask: 'What is my immediate duty?' Will you promise to do this?"

Walter gave Holsma his hand on it.

"And you would like to know more, my boy? I would, too. What lies before you? Well, you are behind in your studies. Other boys of your age know more. We will speak of that again, however; for that is something to be attended to later, and does not come under the head of immediate duty. That smattering of Latin, for which you envy William, you can acquire in a few months, when once you've learned how to use your will. The enemies you have to fight now are quite different from the knights of your romances. Do not underestimate the difficulties you will have to contend with. That might result in your defeat. You must learn to use your intellectual faculties at will; and keep a firm grip on 'Fancy,' or else she will throw you head over heels. Dreaming is not living."

Walter nodded a.s.sent.

"True manliness," Holsma continued, "means, to do what has to be done, no difference how insignificant it may be. What would you think of a lot of knights, who let tramps beat them over the heads because their code of honor did not allow them to fight with tramps? You are going into business now: come to me in a month and tell me if you have kept your word. Then we will speak further; but--that first! Will you?"

"Certainly I shall keep my word, M'neer. But, M'neer, may I ask----?"

"About Femke? Well, that is a good, brave girl. She's a cousin of mine."

"But how did she happen to be----?"

"The young lady in the theatre wasn't Femke. That was Princess Erika. We wanted to see her because her ancestors were related to ours. You rogue, you! There was nothing special about that."

"A real princess?"

"Yes; and Femke is a real wash-girl. I hope that Princess Erika has as admirable a character as Femke. But don't attribute too much importance to this, my boy. Such differences in related families are of frequent occurrence, whether one notices them, or not. There was a time when Erika's forefathers dressed themselves in skins; and mine did the same. We don't know whether she is aware that she has relations here or not. Uncle Sybrand found out--well, he takes a sort of pleasure in tracing out the ident.i.ty of opposites. Rightly understood, the world is smaller than you imagine; everything is a link in the same sequence. Who knows but that you may turn the course of history to-morrow, when you go to work for--what is the style of the firm?"

"Ouwetyd & Kopperlith."

"Yes, when you go to work for Ouwetyd & Kopperlith. But, whether it's to be an historical event, or not, perform your immediate duty. That is the chivalrous, manly thing for you to do--if you will take my advice. Will you?"

"Yes, M'neer! But--Femke?"

"There you go again! She has nothing to do with your immediate duty. The lady that you must attend upon and serve faithfully is--who?"

"Do you mean 'Business'?"

"Right. If you are determined to know more about Femke, I will tell you what she says. She says that for the present you must think of nothing but your work."