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The lady laughed。 〃That will make the race all the more exciting；〃 she said。 〃But I shall wish each of you to be the winner。〃
At this moment her husband Mynheer van Gend came in； and the enchantment falling upon the boys was complete。
The invisible fairies of the household at once clustered about them； whispering that Jasper van Gend had a heart as young and fresh as their own； and if he loved anything in this world more than industry； it was sunshine and frolic。 They hinted also something about his having a hearty full of love and a head full of wisdom and finally gave the boys to understand that when mynheer said a thing； he meant it。
Therefore his frank 〃Well； now； this is pleasant；〃 as he shook hands with them all； made the boys feel quite at home and as happy as squirrels。
There were fine paintings in the drawing room and exquisite statuary； and portfolios filled with rare Dutch engravings； besides many beautiful and curious things from China and Japan。 The boys felt that it would require a month to examine all the treasures of the apartment。
Ben noticed with pleasure English books lying upon the table。 He saw also over the carved upright piano； life…sized portraits of William of Orange and his English queen； a sight that； for a time； brought England and Holland side by side in his heart。 William and Mary have left a halo round the English throne to this day； he the truest patriot that ever served an adopted country； she the noblest wife that ever sat upon a British throne； up to the time of Victoria and Albert the Good。 As Ben looked at the pictures he remembered accounts he had read of King William's visit to The Hague in the winter of 1691。 He who sang the Battle of Ivry had not yet told the glowing story of that day； but Ben knew enough of it to fancy that he could almost hear the shouts of the delighted populace as he looked from the portraits to the street； which at this moment was aglow with a bonfire； kindled in a neighboring square。
That royal visit was one never to be forgotten。 For two years William of Orange had been monarch of a foreign land； his head working faithfully for England； but his whole heart yearning for Holland。 Now； when he sought its shores once more； the entire nation bade him welcome。 Multitudes flocked to The Hague to meet him〃Many thousands came sliding or skating along the frozen canals from Amsterdam； Rotterdam； Leyden； Haarlem； Delft。〃 *｛Macaulay's History of England。｝ All day long the festivities of the capital were kept up； the streets were gorgeous with banners； evergreen arches； trophies； and mottoes of welcome and emblems of industry。 William saw the deeds of his ancestors and scenes of his own past life depicted on banners and tapestries along the streets。 At night superb fireworks were displayed upon the ice。 Its glassy surface was like a mirror。 Sparkling fountains of light sprang up from below to meet the glittering cascades leaping upon it。 Then a feathery fire of crimson and green shook millions of rubies and emeralds into the ruddy depths of the iceand all this time the people were shouting； 〃God bless William of Orange！ Long live the king！〃 They were half mad with joy and enthusiasm。 William； their own prince； their stadtholder； had become the ruler of three kingdoms； he had been victorious in council and in war； and now； in his hour of greatest triumph； had come as a simple guest to visit them。 he king heard their shouts with a beating heart。 It is a great thing to be beloved by one's country。 His English courtiers complimented him upon his reception。 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃but the shouting is nothing to what it would have been if Mary had been with me！〃
While Ben was looking at the portraits； Mynheer van Gend was giving the boys an account of a recent visit to Antwerp。 As it was the birthplace of Quentin Matsys； the blacksmith who for love of an artist's daughter studied until he became a great painter； the boys asked their host if he had seen any of Matsys' works。
〃Yes； indeed；〃 he replied； and excellent they are。 His famous triptych in a chapel of the Antwerp cathedral； with the Descent from the Cross on the center panel； is especially fine； but I confess I was more interested in his well。〃
〃What well； mynheer？〃 asked Ludwig。
One in the heart of the city； near this same cathedral； whose lofty steeple is of such delicate workmanship that the French emperor said it reminded him of Mechlin lace。 The well is covered with a Gothic canopy surmounted by the figure of a knight in full armor。 It is all of metal and proves that Matsys was an artist at the forge as well as at the easel； indeed； his great fame is mainly derived from his miraculous skill as an artificer in iron。〃
Next； mynheer showed the boys some exquisite Berlin castings； which he had purchased in Antwerp。 They were IRON JEWELRY； and very delicatebeautiful medallions designed from rare paintings； bordered with fine tracery and open workworthy； he said； of being worn by the fairest lady of the land。 Consequently the necklace was handed with a bow and a smile to the blushing Mevrouw van Gend。
Something in the lady's aspect； as she bent her bright young face over the gift； caused mynheer to say earnestly； 〃I can read your thoughts； sweetheart。〃
She looked up in playful defiance。
〃Ah； now I am sure of them！ You were thinking of those noblehearted women； but for whom Prussia might have fallen。 I know it by that proud light in your eye。〃
〃The proud light in my eye plays me false； then；〃 she answered。 〃I had no such grand matter in my mind。 To confess the simple truth； I was only thinking how lovely this necklace would be with my blue brocade。〃
〃So； so！〃 exclaimed the rather crestfallen spouse。
〃But I CAN think of the other； Jasper； and it will add a deeper value to your gift。 You remember the incident； do you not； Peter？ How when the French were invading Prussia and for lack of means the country was unable to defend itself against the enemy； the women turned the scale by pouring their plate and jewels into the public treasury〃
Aha！ thought mynheer as he met his vrouw's kindling glance。 The proud light is there now； in earnest。
Peter remarked maliciously that the women had still proved true to their vanity on that occasion； for jewelry they would have。 If gold or silver were wanted by the kingdom； they would relinquish it and use iron； but they could not do without their ornaments。
〃What of that？〃 said the vrouw； kindling again。 〃It is no sin to love beautiful things if you adapt your material to circumstances。 All I have to say is； the women saved their country and； indirectly； introduced a very important branch of manufacture。 Is not that so； Jasper？〃
〃Of course it is； sweetheart；〃 said mynheer； 〃but Peter needs no word of mine to convince him that all the world over women have never been found wanting in their country's hour of trial； though〃（bowing to mevrouw）〃his own country women stand foremost in the records of female patriotism and devotion。〃
Then； turning to Ben； the host talked with him in English of the fine old Belgian city。 Among other things he told the origin of its name。 Ben had been taught that Antwerp was derived from ae'nt werf （on the wharf）； but Mynheer van Gend gave him a far more interesting derivation。
It appears that about three thousand years ago； a great giant； named Antigonus； lived on the river Scheld； on the site of the present city of Antwerp。 This giant claimed half the merchandise of all navigators who passed his castle。 Of course； some were inclined to oppose this simple regulation。 In such cases； Antigonus； by way of teaching them to practice better manners next time； cut off and threw into the river the rights hands of the merchants。 Thus handwerpen （or hand…throwing）； changed to Antwerp； came to be the name of the place。 The escutcheon or arms of the city has two hands upon it； what better proof than this could one have of the truth of the story； especially when one wishes to believe it！
When Mynheer van Gend had related in two languages this story of Antwerp； he was tempted to tell other legendssome in English； some in Dutch； and so the moments； borne upon the swift shoulders of gnomes and giants； glided rapidly away toward bedtime。
It was hard to break up so pleasant a party； but the Van Gend household moved with the regularity of clockwork。 There was no lingering at the threshold when the cordial 〃Good night！〃 was spoken。 Even while our boys were mounting the stairs； the invisible household fairies again clustered around them； whispering that system and regularity had been chief builders of the master's prosperity。
Beautiful chambers with three beds in them were not to be found in this mansion。 Some of the rooms contained two； but each visitor slept alone。 Before morning； the motto of the party evidently was； 〃Every boy his own chrysalis；〃 and Peter； at least； was not sorry to have it so。
Tired as he was； Ben； after noting a curious bell rope in the corner； began to examine his bedclothes。 Each article filled him with astonishmentthe exquisitely fine pillow spread trimmed with costly lace and embroidered with a gorgeous crest and initial； the dekbed cover （a great silk