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When Max had bid farewell； she watched him from the door。
35
The next day； and the next； Max went to ask
The health of Jufvrouw Kurler； and the news：
Another tulip blown； or the great task
Of gathering petals which the high wind strews；
The polishing of floors； the pictured tiles
Well scrubbed； and oaken chairs most deftly oiled。
Such things were Christine's world； and his was she
Winter drew near； his sun was in her smiles。
Another Spring； and at his law he toiled；
Unspoken hope counselled a wise efficiency。
36
Max Breuck was honour's soul； he knew himself
The guardian of this girl； no more； no less。
As one in charge of guineas on a shelf
Loose in a china teapot； may confess
His need； but may not borrow till his friend
Comes back to give。 So Max； in honour； said
No word of love or marriage； but the days
He clipped off on his almanac。 The end
Must come！ The second year； with feet of lead；
Lagged slowly by till Spring had plumped the willow sprays。
37
Two years had made Christine a woman grown；
With dignity and gently certain pride。
But all her childhood fancies had not flown；
Her thoughts in lovely dreamings seemed to glide。
Max was her trusted friend； did she confess
A closer happiness？ Max could not tell。
Two years were over and his life he found
Sphered and complete。 In restless eagerness
He waited for the 〃Horn of Fortune〃。 Well
Had he his promise kept； abating not one pound。
38
Spring slipped away to Summer。 Still no glass
Sighted the brigantine。 Then Grootver came
Demanding Jufvrouw Kurler。 His trespass
Was justified； for he had won the game。
Christine begged time； more time！ Midsummer went；
And Grootver waxed impatient。 Still the ship
Tarried。 Christine； betrayed and weary； sank
To dreadful terrors。 One day； crazed； she sent
For Max。 〃Come quickly；〃 said her note； 〃I skip
The worst distress until we meet。 The world is blank。〃
39
Through the long sunshine of late afternoon
Max went to her。 In the pleached alley； lost
In bitter reverie； he found her soon。
And sitting down beside her； at the cost
Of all his secret； 〃Dear；〃 said he； 〃what thing
So suddenly has happened？〃 Then； in tears；
She told that Grootver； on the following morn；
Would come to marry her； and shuddering：
〃I will die rather； death has lesser fears。〃
Max felt the shackles drop from the oath which he had sworn。
40
〃My Dearest One； the hid joy of my heart！
I love you； oh！ you must indeed have known。
In strictest honour I have played my part；
But all this misery has overthrown
My scruples。 If you love me； marry me
Before the sun has dipped behind those trees。
You cannot be wed twice； and Grootver； foiled；
Can eat his anger。 My care it shall be
To pay your father's debt； by such degrees
As I can compass； and for years I've greatly toiled。
41
This is not haste； Christine； for long I've known
My love； and silence forced upon my lips。
I worship you with all the strength I've shown
In keeping faith。〃 With pleading finger tips
He touched her arm。 〃Christine！ Beloved！ Think。
Let us not tempt the future。 Dearest； speak；
I love you。 Do my words fall too swift now？
They've been in leash so long upon the brink。〃
She sat quite still； her body loose and weak。
Then into him she melted； all her soul at flow。
42
And they were married ere the westering sun
Had disappeared behind the garden trees。
The evening poured on them its benison；
And flower…scents； that only night…time frees；
Rose up around them from the beamy ground；
Silvered and shadowed by a tranquil moon。
Within the arbour； long they lay embraced；
In such enraptured sweetness as they found
Close…partnered each to each； and thinking soon
To be enwoven； long ere night to morning faced。
43
At last Max spoke； 〃Dear Heart； this night is ours；
To watch it pale； together； into dawn；
Pressing our souls apart like opening flowers
Until our lives； through quivering bodies drawn；
Are mingled and confounded。 Then； far spent；
Our eyes will close to undisturbed rest。
For that desired thing I leave you now。
To pinnacle this day's accomplishment；
By telling Grootver that a bootless quest
Is his； and that his schemes have met a knock…down blow。〃
44
But Christine clung to him with sobbing cries；
Pleading for love's sake that he leave her not。
And wound her arms about his knees and thighs
As he stood over her。 With dread； begot
Of Grootver's name； and silence； and the night；
She shook and trembled。 Words in moaning plaint
Wooed him to stay。 She feared； she knew not why；
Yet greatly feared。 She seemed some anguished saint
Martyred by visions。 Max Breuck soothed her fright
With wisdom； then stepped out under the cooling sky。
45
But at the gate once more she held him close
And quenched her heart again upon his lips。
〃My Sweetheart； why this terror？ I propose
But to be gone one hour！ Evening slips
Away； this errand must be done。〃 〃Max！ Max！
First goes my father； if I lose you now！〃
She grasped him as in panic lest she drown。
Softly he laughed； 〃One hour through the town
By moonlight！ That's no place for foul attacks。
Dearest； be comforted； and clear that troubled brow。
46
One hour； Dear； and then； no more alone。
We front another day as man and wife。
I shall be back almost before I'm gone；
And midnight shall anoint and crown our life。〃
Then through the gate he passed。 Along the street
She watched his buttons gleaming in the moon。
He stopped to wave and turned the garden wall。
Straight she sank down upon a mossy seat。
Her senses； mist…encircled by a swoon；
Swayed to unconsciousness beneath its wreathing pall。
47
Briskly Max walked beside the still canal。
His step was firm with purpose。 Not a jot
He feared this meeting； nor the rancorous gall
Grootver would spit on him who marred his plot。
He dreaded no man； since he could protect
Christine。 His wife！ He stopped and laughed aloud。
His starved life had not fitted him for joy。
It strained him to the utmost to reject
Even this hour with her。 His heart beat loud。
〃Damn Grootver； who can force my time to this employ！〃
48
He laughed again。 What boyish uncontrol
To be so racked。 Then felt his ticking watch。
In half an hour Grootver would know the whole。
And he would be returned； lifting the latch
Of his own gate； eager to take Christine
And crush her to his lips。 How bear delay？
He broke into a run。 In front； a line
Of candle…light banded the cobbled street。
Hilverdink's tavern！ Not for many a day
Had he been there to take his old； accustomed seat。
49
〃Why； Max！ Stop； Max！〃 And out they came pell…mell；
His old companions。 〃Max； where have you been？
No