"Although he should starve?" asked the wife, bitterly. "Yes, although he should starve. It is better to starve with a good conscience, than to live in comfort by fraud." This silenced the woman for a time. Then she said, "If it were not for the children...." and the tears flowed faster. "It is exactly on account of the children, mother. If the children are good, they will thank the father who is struggling for their sakes, even though he struggle in vain. And there is something for them still, else you would not have been able to give to me--the stranger." Markus looked at her smilingly, and she smiled in return. "You--you should have our last mouthful!" said she, heartily. Then, glancing toward the window, she added: "Who are those young scamps looking in? And a _monkey_ with them!" Then Markus turned around. As soon as the two standing outside recognized his face, they shouted "Hurrah!" and rushed in without knocking. Marjon flew to Markus, threw her arms about his neck, and kissed him. Johannes, rather more shy, clung to his hand. Keesje, being distrustful of the children, peered around the place with careful scrutiny. Then there followed in Dutch a brisk, confused interchange of information. All the adventures had to be narrated, and Marjon was very happy and communicative. The mother kept still, looking on with a discontented air, full of her own troubles. The noise awakened the half-slumbering child, and it began to cry. Then the husband came home, morose and irritable. "What confounded business is this?" he cried; and the two were silent, slowly comprehending that they were in a dwelling full of care. Johannes looked earnestly at the weary, care-seamed face of the man, and the pale, anxious features of the mother, wondering if there was any news. "Hollanders?" asked the miner, seating himself at the table, and holding up a plate. "Yes, friends of Markus," replied the wife. Then, in assumed calmness, she asked: "Is there any news?" "We have the best of it!" said the husband, with forced cheerfulness. "We win--we surely win. It can't be otherwise. What have you to say about it, Markus?" But Markus was silent, and gazing out-of-doors. Swearing because the food was not to his taste, the man then began to eat. Marjon's merriment subsided. The wife shook her head sadly, and kissed her child. "You need to look out, you young rascals," said the man, all at once. "They are searching for you. Have you been pilfering? Which of you is the girl in disguise?" "_I_ am!" said Marjon. "What do they want of me? Now what if I have no other duds?" "Are you a girl?" asked the wife. "Shame on you!" "Has not Vrouw Huber a spare garment for her?" asked Markus. "She has so many daughters!" "We may need to pawn them all," replied the wife. But Johannes, with a manly bearing, cried: "We can pay for them. I have some money!"