ys some exquisite Berlin castings, which
he had purchased in Antwerp. They were IRON JEWELRY, and very
delicate--beautiful medallions designed from rare paintings, bordered
with fine tracery and open work--worthy, 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 der