"I could never marry anyone but you, Peter," she whispered to me, as we
sat together on the terrace of the palace by the Zuider Zee, after she
had confided to me her anxieties, "but I find it hard to keep up the
deception that I am heart-whole and fancy-free, and yet indifferent to
Count Hendrick's attentions. Indeed, my father openly upbraids me with
being fickle, inconstant, unmaidenly, and I know not what besides,
until I am driven to my wit's end to keep the peace between us. Yet I
doubt not, if he knew the truth, he would marry me willy-nilly to Count
Hendrick Luitken by force."
"Then it would be to a corpse he would marry you," I cried, "for sooner
than see you wedded to Count Luitken I would strangle him with my bare
hands if he refused to meet me as an equal in fair fight."
"Dear Peter," whispered Anna, as she nestled closer to me, "if I cannot
marry you I'll marry none other, and the Church does not now sanction
marriage vows given unwillingly. If they drive me to it I can at least
seek the cloister or the grave."
"Do not speak so, dear Anna," I entreated. "We are both young, and by
patience and industry I may yet win a place in the world.
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