i6o
good man of him, and the example of his home,
had failed. Sin throve better in some than in
others, and the reason for it must remain a riddle.
All the prayers that he had offered up for him
morning and evening for twenty-one years had been
unheard. Werendonk was in despair and blamed
himself. But perseverance in faith, he thought,
will save his soul.
On his round of payments one Saturday morning
he met his brother Diderik, who asked him if he
knew that his adopted son frequented low taverns.
He, Diderik, had contributed for long years out of
his savings, depriving his own children, to cleanse
the boy from his father's shame, but if it was all to
be of no avail he would give up doing it. He was
convinced that it was Kroon's daughter who was
inspiring him with evil thoughts, and he persuaded
Gerbrand to go with him and talk to Kroon. Frans
must be present too, he said, because it concerned
them all.
That afternoon they rang the bell in Kerkstraat.
Wijntje, who opened the door, said that her father
and mother had unexpectedly been called away
through a death in the family. The brothers
hesitated and exchanged glances, but Diderik said
that they could talk it over with her and he stepped
to the front and walked in. When they were seated
round the table, Frans was the only one who re-
moved his cap. Diderik began to speak. c Child/