Accordingly he came, the whole man impregnated with pungent perfumes
and with a pouncet-box in his hand, so that it almost made one sneeze
to approach him. He was by no means solicitous of any near
neighbourhood to either of the ladies, but was evidently glad to keep
the whole length of the hall-table between them and himself, at least
so I heard, for of course I did not thrust myself into the matter,
but I learned afterwards that Mynheer van Hunker had left a very
large amount of money and lands, which were divided between his
daughters, subject to a very handsome jointure to his wife, who was
to possess both the houses at the Hague and at Hunkerslust for her
life, but would forfeit both these and her income should she marry
any one save a native of the States of Holland. Her jewels, however,
were her own, and the portion she had received from her father, Sir
James Wardour.
As she said to me afterwards, her husband hated all foreigners, and
she held him as having behaved with great kindness and liberality to
her; but, she added with a smile, as she turned bravely towards a
mirror behind her, he need not have laid her under the restriction,
for such things were all over for her. And happily he had not
forbidden her to do as she pleased with her wealth.
That very evening she began to arrange for packets of dollars from
unknown hands to find themselves in the lodgings of the poorest
cavaliers; and for weekly payments to be made at the ordinaries that
they might give their English frequenters substantial meals at a
nominal cost.
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