member of it. [1] She gave large sums every year
to all sorts of institutions; subscribed liberally to any fund for
the benefit of the lower classes; but would never give a penny to
the Church. If I sometimes tried to change her views on this point,
she cut me short by saying it was a matter of conscience with her
not to contribute to the increase of a race of hypocrites. You will
understand that in my position I could not insist further on this
subject. Besides, she did not make use of her riches for herself,
except with the greatest economy. She occupied a small villa just
outside the town of Utrecht, and her beautiful country-seat in
Gelderland, as well as her magnificent house in town, were both let
to strangers. She kept but one man-servant, an aged waiting-woman,
and a cook. The gardener who rented her kitchen-garden supplied her
with vegetables, and kept her flowers in order. She had no carriage,
and sometimes did not go out for weeks together. Neither did she
receive company, denying herself to all visitors except Dr. D., her old
friend, who made a professional visit every day, and came regularly
two evenings a week with his married sister to play cards. I saw her
as often as business affairs rendered it necessary, and once a month
she invited me, my wife and daughter, to dinner. On these occasions
Dr. D. and his sister were also invited; but I never remember to
have met any one else, except the painter who did this portrait,
and to whom she has left a nice little legacy. He was a young man
with roguish eyes, and beautiful mustachios; and I suspect he made
love to her a la Voltaire, for she bought drawings of him which she
never even looked at. He was, otherwise, a good young fellow, with
a widowed mother to maintain; and the capital she has left is large
enough to permit of such a freak of fancy----"

"Oh, certainly!" I interrupted, "I am glad that the latter days of
her monotonous life were cheered by anybody. But what you have told
me of her views with regard to the Church leads me to doubt whether
I ought to accept her heritage, since, once in possession of it, I
shall feel it my duty to make use of her money for purposes directly
contrary to her wishes."

"I don't think you need have any scruples; for she was very well
acquainted with the character of Jonker van Zonshoven, and what might
be expected of him in such matters. Yet you see this did not deter
her from entrusting her fortune to you. Besides, she