"Gertrude! Is Gertrude here?" cried Christian, sitting up with a jerk which alarmed his attendant for the consequences. "O, if she will stay the whole day, it will be as good as the pastor having come back." "She crossed from Saardam on purpose. She will tell you about the angels, if any body can; for she lives in heaven as much as the pastor himself, they say." "She is an angel herself," quietly observed Gertrude's little adorer. Katrina went on with her list. "Then there is Fransje Slyk and her father. He looks as if he knew what a funeral should be, and as grave as if he had been own brother to the departed. I cannot say as much for Fransje." "I had rather have Fransje's behaviour than her father's, though I do not much like her," said Christian. "Mr. Slyk always glances round to see how other people are looking, before he settles his face completely." "Well; you will see how he looks to-day. These are all who will stay till evening, I believe, except Mr. Visscher." "Mr. Visscher! What is he to stay for? I suppose Heins wants to talk to him about this new cargo that came too late. O, Kaatje, I never can bear to look through the trees at that ship again. I saw the white sails in the moonlight all that night when I lay watching what was going on, and heard Heins's step in and out, and my mother's voice when she thought nobody heard her; and I could not catch a breath of my father's voice, though I listened till the rustle of my head on the pillow startled me. And then my mother came in, looking so that I thought my father was better; but she came to tell me that I should never hear his voice any more. But O, if she knew how often I have heard it since! how glad I should be to leave off hearing it when I am alone----." Poor Christian wept so as not to be comforted till his beloved friend Gertrude came to hear what he had to say about those whom he believed to be her kindred angels.