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and rowdy. On the following day when he went
to collect his money, and it was not forthcoming,
a quarrel ensued in which he reproached Berken-
rode, not only with untrustworthiness, but with his
conduct. He left without taking leave of him, and
that evening he sat at table with puckered brows ;
his two brothers looked at each other in surprise.
They did not know how dark his thoughts were in
his anxiety for his sister, nor how he was controlling
his anger, both then and in the days that followed,
for he gave no sign except his dark looks, and went
about his business, talking calmly with customers.
* Brother,* Frans asked him once, * why are you so
quiet ? You remind me of father sometimes, when
you look so black.5 He received no answer.
Then Berkenrode, in despair, was driven to ask
him for help once more. He came one evening
when Werendonk was sitting alone over his ac-
counts ; he didn't take his hat off, but came to the
point at once, speaking hurriedly. He couldn't
explain what his business difficulties were, but he
must have money within the next two days, a large
sum this time, otherwise he would probably not be
able to keep his head above water; it wasn't his
fault, circumstances were against him. Werendonk
saw the fear in his eyes. He asked how he was to
raise the money. He could borrow it, said his
brother-in-law, by mortgaging his house. Weren-
donk stood up ; the other saw that his face was red.