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heaving motion of the chest; caused by the

process of respiration。



These two peculiarities; though when

told they may appear trifling; produced a

very striking and unpleasant effect when

seen and observed。 Vanderhausen at

length relieved the painter of Leyden of

his inauspicious presence; and with no

small gratification the little party heard the

street…door close after him。



'Dear uncle;' said Rose; 'what a frightful

man! I would not see him again for

the wealth of the States!'



'Tush; foolish girl!' said Douw; whose

sensations were anything but comfortable。

'A man may be as ugly as the devil; and

yet if his heart and actions are good; he

is worth all the pretty…faced; perfumed

puppies that walk the Mall。 Rose; my

girl; it is very true he has not thy pretty

face; but I know him to be wealthy and

liberal; and were he ten times more

ugly'



'Which is inconceivable;' observed Rose。



'These two virtues would be sufficient;'

continued her uncle; 'to counterbalance all

his deformity; and if not of power sufficient

actually to alter the shape of the features;

at least of efficacy enough to prevent one

thinking them amiss。'



'Do you know; uncle;' said Rose; 'when

I saw him standing at the door; I could

not get it out of my head that I saw the

old; painted; wooden figure that used to

frighten me so much in the church of St。

Laurence of Rotterdam。'



Gerard laughed; though he could not

help inwardly acknowledging the justness

of the comparison。 He was resolved;

however; as far as he could; to check his

niece's inclination to ridicule the ugliness

of her intended bridegroom; although he

was not a little pleased to observe that she

appeared totally exempt from that mysterious

dread of the stranger which; he could

not disguise it from himself; considerably

affected him; as also his pupil Godfrey

Schalken。



Early on the next day there arrived;

from various quarters of the town; rich

presents of silks; velvets; jewellery; and so

forth; for Rose; and also a packet directed

to Gerard Douw; which; on being opened;

was found to contain a contract of marriage;

formally drawn up; between Wilken

Vanderhausen of the Boom…quay; in Rotterdam;

and Rose Velderkaust of Leyden; niece to

Gerard Douw; master in the art of painting;

also of the same city; and containing

engagements on the part of Vanderhausen to

make settlements upon his bride; far more

splendid than he had before led her guardian

to believe likely; and which were to

be secured to her use in the most unexceptionable

manner possiblethe money being

placed in the hands of Gerard Douw himself。



I have no sentimental scenes to describe;

no cruelty of guardians; or magnanimity of

wards; or agonies of lovers。 The record I

have to make is one of sordidness; levity;

and interest。 In less than a week after

the first interview which we have just

described; the contract of marriage was

fulfilled; and Schalken saw the prize which

he would have risked anything to secure;

carried off triumphantly by his formidable

rival。



For two or three days he absented

himself from the school; he then returned

and worked; if with less cheerfulness; with

far more dogged resolution than before;

the dream of love had given place to that

of ambition。



Months passed away; and; contrary to

his expectation; and; indeed; to the direct

promise of the parties; Gerard Douw heard

nothing of his niece; or her worshipful

spouse。 The interest of the money; which

was to have been demanded in quarterly

sums; lay unclaimed in his hands。 He

began to grow extremely uneasy。



Mynher Vanderhausen's direction in

Rotterdam he was fully possessed of。 After

some irresolution he finally determined to

journey thithera trifling undertaking; and

easily accomplishedand thus to satisfy

himself of the safety and comfort of his

ward; for whom he entertained an honest

and strong affection。



His search was in vain; however。 No

one in Rotterdam had ever heard of Mynher

Vanderhausen。



Gerard Douw left not a house in the

Boom…quay untried; but all in vain。 No

one could give him any information whatever

touching the object of his inquiry;

and he was obliged to return to Leyden;

nothing wiser than when he had left

it。



On his arrival he hastened to the

establishment from which Vanderhausen had

hired the lumbering though; considering

the times; most luxurious vehicle which

the bridal party had employed to convey

them to Rotterdam。 From the driver of

this machine he learned; that having

proceeded by slow stages; they had late in

the evening approached Rotterdam; but

that before they entered the city; and

while yet nearly a mile from it; a small

party of men; soberly clad; and after the

old fashion; with peaked beards and

moustaches; standing in the centre of the road;

obstructed the further progress of the car…

riage。 The driver reined in his horses;

much fearing; from the obscurity of the

hour; and the loneliness of the road; that

some mischief was intended。



His fears were; however; somewhat

allayed by his observing that these strange

men carried a large litter; of an antique

shape; and which they immediately set

down upon the pavement; whereupon the

bridegroom; having opened the coach…door

from within; descended; and having assisted

his bride to do likewise; led her; weeping

bitterly and wringing her hands; to the

litter; which they both entered。 It was

then raised by the men who surrounded it;

and speedily carried towards the city; and

before it had proceeded many yards the

darkness concealed it from the view of the

Dutch charioteer。



In the inside of the vehicle he found a

purse; whose contents more than thrice

paid the hire of the carriage and man。

He saw and could tell nothing more of

Mynher Vanderhausen and his beautiful

lady。 This mystery was a source of deep

anxiety and almost of grief to Gerard

Douw。



There was evidently fraud in the dealing

of Vanderhausen with him; though for what

purpose committed he could not imagine。

He greatly doubted how far it was possible

for a man possessing in his countenance

so strong an evidence of the presence of

the most demoniac feelings; to be in reality

anything but a villain; and every day that

passed without his hearing from or of his

niece; instead of inducing him to forget

his fears; on the contrary tended more and

more to exasperate them。



The loss of his niece's cheerful society

tended also to depress his spirits; and in

order to dispel this despondency; which

often crept upon his mind after his daily

employment was over; he was wont frequently

to prevail upon Schalken to accompany

him home; and by his presence

to dispel; in some degree; the gloom of his

otherwise solitary supper。



One evening; the painter and his pupil

were sitting by the fire; having accomplished

a comfortable supper; and had

yielded to that silent pensiveness

sometimes induced by the process of digestion;

when their reflections were disturbed by

a loud sound at the street…door; as if

occasioned by some person rushing forcibly and

repeatedly against it。 A domestic had run

without delay to ascertain the cause of the

disturbance; and they heard him twice or

thrice interrogate the applicant for admis…

sion; but without producing an answer or

any cessation of the sounds。



They heard him then open the hall…door;

and immediately there followed a light and

rapid tread upon the staircase。 Schalken

laid his hand on his sword; and advanced

towards the door。 It opened before he

reached it; and Rose rushed into the room。

She looked wild and haggard; and pale with

exhaustion and terror; but her dress

surprised them as much even as her

unexpected appearance。 It consisted of a kind

of white woollen wrapper; made close about

the neck; and descending to the very

ground。 It was much deranged and

travel…soiled。 The poor creature had

hardly entered the chamber when she fell

senseless on the floor。 With some difficulty

they succeeded in reviving her; and

on recovering her senses she instantly ex…

claimed; in a tone of eager; terrified impatience:



'Wine; wine; quickly; or I'm lost!'



Much alarmed at the strange agitation

in which the call was made; they at once

administered to her wishes; and she drank

some wine with a haste and eagerness which

surprised them。 She had hardly swallowed

it; when she exclaimed; with the same

urgency:



'Food; food; at once; or I perish!'



A considerable fragment of a roast joint

was upon the table; and Schalken immediately

proceeded to cut some; but he was

anticipated; for no sooner had she become

aware of its presence than she darted at it

with the rapacity of a vulture; and; seizing

it in her hands she tore off the flesh 

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