like to stay a little longer with us, I simply
sent off to Zutphen for his luggage."

It was now my turn to speak, and I asked Francis if she would keep
me there a few days longer. Her answer, however, was in the negative.

"Leave at once; it is better for both of us."

In the meantime the Captain, like a worthy major-domo, had not only
assisted in bringing in my box, but also a number of packages, bottles,
tins, &c., which he spread over the table, and clapping the General
on the shoulder, as he said--

"Now, what says your Excellency; have I not made a splendid foraging
party?"

"No more of your 'Excellency' and insolent nonsense," burst out
Francis, her eyes striking fire and her cheeks burning with rage. "You
clearly forget, you d----d rascal, that you are an inferior; otherwise
you would not dare to act like this. Bless my soul, what a foolish
throwing away of money is this--perdrix rouges, pate-de-foie-gras,
all kinds of fish in jelly, all kinds of preserved fruit. Why, it
looks as if you were going to start a business here. Why have you
brought all these useless dainties again?" And she struck the table
with her clenched fist till the pots and bottles danced again. "The
General ought to turn you out of doors; and he would if his tongue
and sense of honour had not grown dull."

"Francis, Francis!" murmured Von Zwenken in a pitiful tone.

"No, grandfather," she continued, more loudly and rudely, "it is a
shame, and if you had the least fortitude left you would put a stop
to such extravagance."

"Major, Major!" interposed Rolf, deprecatingly.

"Silence, you miserable epicure--I am no longer your major; I have
had enough of your quasi-pleasantry. If I had my will all this should
be changed. But I have lost my authority; you let me talk----"

"Scream, you mean," corrected Von Zwenken, with a quivering voice.

"And you go on just the same," resumed Francis, pitching her voice
still higher. "But I will not suffer you to take such liberties any
longer; and if grandfather does not call you to order, I will myself
put you out of doors, and all your delicacies with you."

"For heaven's sake, Francis, calm yourself," said Von Zwenken;
"remember that Jonker van Zonshoven is a witness of your unseemly
conduct."

"All the better. The Jonker chooses to become our guest, and he
shall see and know into what a mean and miserable a household he has
entered. I will put no blind before his eyes."

"There is, however