Like Marjon, Johannes was now in a boarding-house. He was with some friends of Jan--a worthy couple without children--who kept a total-abstinence coffee-house. The man was named Roodhuis, and he was tall and stout. He had a large, forceful face, light-colored eyes, and a small, fair moustache. He said little, and had a great dislike of alcohol and of soldiers. His wife, too, seldom spoke, but was very kindly and industrious. Through their little business they made a livelihood, and no more. They were interested in everything that concerned the labor movement, and received in their small assembly-place all of the leaders and speakers prominent in the struggle. In that little hall, too, choir rehearsals were held, and little plays were given--as often as possible, adverse to war and to alcohol, and in favor of the so ardently desired Freedom and Fraternity. Here Johannes found board and lodging, for which he did not need to pay, because he lent a helping hand in the work of the place. He had just been having a hard experience: he had bidden his little friends good-by. Although they had grown larger and stronger, and were therefore no longer so tender and delicate as when he first saw them, yet the parting was full of sadness. "Why do you go away, Johnny, and where are you going to live?" they asked. "I am poor, and must work to earn my bread," replied Johannes. "Oh, but Mama will give you money--will you not, Mama? And you can always eat and live here. Then you will not need to work," said Olga. "You can have half of my share of oatmeal every time," said Frieda; "I get more than I want, though." "No, children," said the mother, "it is not nice nor well to live upon what one gets from another, without working one's self. That is parasitism, and sinful before God. Johannes knows this, and being poor he is good to wish to work." "Well, then, dear Johnny," said Olga, "I shall pray that God will make you rich quickly--as rich as we are; and then you will not need to work, and will come back again." "I don't think it nice of God to make Johnny poor and us rich," said Frieda, pouting. "Fie, Frieda, you must not say that," said Mevrouw. And then Johannes went away swiftly and bravely before the tears came. Later, he heard that Van Lieverlee, whom he had not bidden good-by, had told everybody that Johannes had left in a pet to live with some proletarians because of his having been repeatedly rebuked by himself on account of his excessive vanity. * * * * *