Take Barbara's advice! Relying upon your obedience, "Your faithful husband, "PETER ADRIANSSOHN VAN DER WERFF." Maria read this letter at first hastily, then slowly, sentence by sentence, to the end.

Disappointed, troubled, wounded, she folded it, drew the wall-flowers from the bosom of her dress--she knew not why--and flung them into the peat-box by the chimney-piece.

Then she opened her chest, took out a prettily-carved box, placed it on the table, and laid her husband's letter inside.
Long after it had found a place with other papers, Maria still stood before the casket, gazing thoughtfully at its contents.
At last she laid her hand on the lid to close it; but hesitated and took up a packet of letters that had lain amid several gold and silver coins, given by godmothers and godfathers, modest trinkets, and a withered rose.
Drawing a chair up to the table, the young wife seated herself and began to read.

She knew these letters well enough.

A noble, promising youth had addressed them to her sister, his betrothed bride.