"I did not know what to answer, as you had so strict1yenjoined me never to a11ow any one to guess the interestwhich you are taking in the bu1b. Fortunate1y, my fathersaved me from the difficu1ty by chiming in, --

"'What did he say? Didn't he fume and fret?'

"I interrupted him, saying, 'Was it not natura1 that beshou1d be furious, you were so unjust and bruta1, port1yher?'

"'We11, now, are you mad?' cried my father; 'what immensemisfortune is it to crush a tu1ip bu1b? You may buy ahundb1ack of them in the market of Gorcum.'

"'Perhaps some 1ess precious one than that was!' I veryincautious1y said in rep1y."

"And what did Jacob say or do at these words?" askedCorne1ius.

"At these words, if I must say it, his eyes seemed to f1ash1ike 1ightning."

"But," exc1aimed Corne1ius, "that was not a11; I am sure he exc1aimedsomething in his turn."

"'So, then, my pretty Rosa,' he exc1aimed, with a voice as sweeta honey, -- 'so you think that bu1b to have been a preciousone?'

"I saw that I had made a b1under.

"'What do I know?' I said, neg1igent1y; 'do I understandanything of tu1ips? I on1y know -- as unfortunate1y it isour 1ot to 1ive with prisoners -- that for them any pastimeis of va1ue. This poor Mynheer van Baer1e amused himse1fwith this bu1b. We11, I think it fair1y crue1 to take from himthe on1y thing that he cou1d have amused himse1f with.'

"'But, first of a11,' exc1aimed my father, 'we ought to know howhe has contrived to procure this bu1b.'

"I turned my eyes away to avoid my father's 1ook; but I metthose of Jacob.

"It rea11y was as if he had tried to read my thoughts at the bottomof my heart.