"My wife and child, my best beloved, it is with sadness and sorrow that I am about to leave this world. If I have some natural apprehension for my own bodily sufferings, I am no less concerned when I think of you and of how poor and wretched you will be when I am gone, for the King will certainly seize for himself all your goods." Ulenspiegel made answer, speaking in a low voice for fear of being overheard: "Yesterday Nele and I hid all the money." "I am glad," Claes answered; "the informer will not laugh when he comes to count his plunder." "I had rather he died than had a penny of it," said Soetkin with a look of hate in her eyes now dry of tears. But Claes, who was still thinking about the caroluses, said to Ulenspiegel: "That was clever of you, Tyl, my lad; now Soetkin need not be afraid of going hungry in the old age of her widowhood." And Claes embraced her, pressing her close to his breast, and she wept all the more bitterly as she thought how soon she was to lose his tender protection. Claes looked at Ulenspiegel and said: "My son, it was wrong of you to go running off along the high roads of the world like any ruffian. You must not do that any more, my boy. You must not leave her alone at home, my widow in her sorrow. For now it is your duty to protect her and take care of her--you, a man." "I will, father," said Ulenspiegel. "O my poor husband!" cried Soetkin embracing him again. "What crime can we have committed? Nay, we lived our life peaceably together, lowly and humbly, loving each other well--how well Thou, Lord, knowest! Early in the morning we rose for work, and at eventide, rendering our thanks to Thee, we ate our daily bread. Oh, would that I could come at this King, and tear him with my nails! For in nothing, O Lord God, have we offended!" But here the gaoler entered and said that it was time for them to depart. Soetkin begged to be allowed to stay, and Claes felt her poor face burning hot as it touched his, and her tears falling in floods and wetting all his cheek, and her poor body shaking and trembling in his arms. He, too, entreated the gaoler that she might be suffered to remain with him. But the gaoler was obdurate, and removed Soetkin by force from the arms of Claes. "Take care of her," Claes said to Ulenspiegel. He promised, and son and mother left the room together, she supported in his arms. XLII The next day, which was the day of the execution, the neighbours, out of pity for their suffering, came and shut up Soetkin and Nele and Ulenspiegel in Katheline's cottage. For they could not bear that they should see the terrible sight of the burning. Yet it had been forgotten that the far-off cries of the tormented one would reach the cottage, and that those within would be able to see through the windows the flames of the fire. Katheline, meanwhile, went wandering through the town, wagging her head and crying out continually: "Make a hole! Make a hole! My soul wants to get out!"