She came with me to see my mother, and I soon found that, as true
women, there was no inequality between them. Anna had lost her own
mother when she was too young to remember, and she clung to her new
mother that was to be with an affection born of her loving nature.
In a word, my jewels had brought me the only true happiness which
wealth can give--the power of making others happy.
CHAPTER XXVI
HAPPILY MARRIED
I now resolved to bring Count Hendrick Luitken to account for his
treatment of Anna, though I did not desire that Anna's name should
appear in the matter, so that gossip might be avoided. I therefore
bided my time, and waited an opportunity which soon came.
The Count of Holstein had resigned the governorship of Urk, and now
kept a fine establishment at Amsterdam, to which he frequently invited
company, and at one of his banquets I met, as I expected, Count
Hendrick Luitken.
As a merchant's clerk, and afterwards as a seaman, the Count had taken
no notice of me, but now that I was rich and betrothed to Anna, he
could do no less than treat me with consideration when he met me at her
father's house.
The banquet was sumptuous, and no effort was spared to make it worthy
of the late Governor's hospitality.
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