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At the great wharf。〃 Then hurrying； in spite
Of cake and wine the old man pressed upon
Him ere he went； he took his leave and shut the door。
21
'Twas noon in Amsterdam； the day was clear；
And sunshine tipped the pointed roofs with gold。
The brown canals ran liquid bronze； for here
The sun sank deep into the waters cold。
And every clock and belfry in the town
Hammered； and struck； and rang。 Such peals of bells；
To shake the sunny morning into life；
And to proclaim the middle； and the crown；
Of this most sparkling daytime！ The crowd swells；
Laughing and pushing toward the quays in friendly strife。
22
The 〃Horn of Fortune〃 sails away to…day。
At highest tide she lets her anchor go；
And starts for China。 Saucy popinjay！
Giddy in freshest paint she curtseys low；
And beckons to her boats to let her start。
Blue is the ocean； with a flashing breeze。
The shining waves are quick to take her part。
They push and spatter her。 Her sails are loose；
Her tackles hanging； waiting men to seize
And haul them taut； with chanty…singing； as they choose。
23
At the great wharf's edge Mynheer Kurler stands；
And by his side； his daughter； young Christine。
Max Breuck is there； his hat held in his hands；
Bowing before them both。 The brigantine
Bounces impatient at the long delay；
Curvets and jumps； a cable's length from shore。
A heavy galliot unloads on the walls
Round； yellow cheeses； like gold cannon balls
Stacked on the stones in pyramids。 Once more
Kurler has kissed Christine； and now he is away。
24
Christine stood rigid like a frozen stone；
Her hands wrung pale in effort at control。
Max moved aside and let her be alone；
For grief exacts each penny of its toll。
The dancing boat tossed on the glinting sea。
A sun…path swallowed it in flaming light；
Then； shrunk a cockleshell； it came again
Upon the other side。 Now on the lee
It took the 〃Horn of Fortune〃。 Straining sight
Could see it hauled aboard； men pulling on the crane。
25
Then up above the eager brigantine；
Along her slender masts； the sails took flight；
Were sheeted home； and ropes were coiled。 The shine
Of the wet anchor； when its heavy weight
Rose splashing to the deck。 These things they saw；
Christine and Max； upon the crowded quay。
They saw the sails grow white； then blue in shade；
The ship had turned； caught in a windy flaw
She glided imperceptibly away；
Drew farther off and in the bright sky seemed to fade。
26
Home； through the emptying streets； Max took Christine；
Who would have hid her sorrow from his gaze。
Before the iron gateway； clasped between
Each garden wall； he stopped。 She； in amaze；
Asked； 〃Do you enter not then； Mynheer Breuck？
My father told me of your courtesy。
Since I am now your charge； 'tis meet for me
To show such hospitality as maiden may；
Without disdaining rules must not be broke。
Katrina will have coffee； and she bakes today。〃
27
She straight unhasped the tall； beflowered gate。
Curled into tendrils； twisted into cones
Of leaves and roses； iron infoliate；
It guards the pleasance； and its stiffened bones
Are budded with much peering at the rows；
And beds； and arbours； which it keeps inside。
Max started at the beauty； at the glare
Of tints。 At either end was set a wide
Path strewn with fine； red gravel； and such shows
Of tulips in their splendour flaunted everywhere！
28
From side to side； midway each path； there ran
A longer one which cut the space in two。
And； like a tunnel some magician
Has wrought in twinkling green； an alley grew；
Pleached thick and walled with apple trees； their flowers
Incensed the garden； and when Autumn came
The plump and heavy apples crowding stood
And tapped against the arbour。 Then the dame
Katrina shook them down； in pelting showers
They plunged to earth； and died transformed to sugared food。
29
Against the high； encircling walls were grapes；
Nailed close to feel the baking of the sun
From glowing bricks。 Their microscopic shapes
Half hidden by serrated leaves。 And one
Old cherry tossed its branches near the door。
Bordered along the wall； in beds between；
Flickering； streaming； nodding in the air；
The pride of all the garden； there were more
Tulips than Max had ever dreamed or seen。
They jostled； mobbed； and danced。 Max stood at helpless stare。
30
〃Within the arbour； Mynheer Breuck； I'll bring
Coffee and cakes； a pipe； and Father's best
Tobacco； brought from countries harbouring
Dawn's earliest footstep。 Wait。〃 With girlish zest
To please her guest she flew。 A moment more
She came again； with her old nurse behind。
Then； sitting on the bench and knitting fast；
She talked as someone with a noble store
Of hidden fancies； blown upon the wind；
Eager to flutter forth and leave their silent past。
31
The little apple leaves above their heads
Let fall a quivering sunshine。 Quiet； cool；
In blossomed boughs they sat。 Beyond； the beds
Of tulips blazed； a proper vestibule
And antechamber to the rainbow。 Dyes
Of prismed richness： Carmine。 Madder。 Blues
Tinging dark browns to purple。 Silvers flushed
To amethyst and tinct with gold。 Round eyes
Of scarlet； spotting tender saffron hues。
Violets sunk to blacks； and reds in orange crushed。
32
Of every pattern and in every shade。
Nacreous； iridescent； mottled； checked。
Some purest sulphur…yellow； others made
An ivory…white with disks of copper flecked。
Sprinkled and striped； tasselled； or keenest edged。
Striated； powdered； freckled； long or short。
They bloomed； and seemed strange wonder…moths new…fledged；
Born of the spectrum wedded to a flame。
The shade within the arbour made a port
To o'ertaxed eyes； its still； green twilight rest became。
33
Her knitting…needles clicked and Christine talked；
This child matured to woman unaware；
The first time left alone。 Now dreams once balked
Found utterance。 Max thought her very fair。
Beneath her cap her ornaments shone gold；
And purest gold they were。 Kurler was rich
And heedful。 Her old maiden aunt had died
Whose darling care she was。 Now； growing bold；
She asked； had Max a sister？ Dropped a stitch
At her own candour。 Then she paused and softly sighed。
34
Two years was long！ She loved her father well；
But fears she had not。 He had always been
Just sailed or sailing。 And she must not dwell
On sad thoughts； he had told her so； and seen
Her smile at parting。 But she sighed once more。
Two years was long； 'twas not one hour yet！
Mynheer Grootver she would not see at all。
Yes； yes； she knew； but ere the date so set；
The 〃Horn of Fortune〃 would be at the wall。
When Max had bid farewell； she watched him from the door。
35
The next day； and the next；