He insisted on their coming home with him at once, and he would show them whether they were welcome to Rotterdam or not.
"Who doubts it, cousin?
Who doubts it ?" said the scholar.
Margaret thanked him graciously, but demurred to go just now: said she wanted to hear the minstrels again.

In about a quarter of an hour Johnson renewed his proposal, and bade her observe that many of the guests had left.

Then her real reason came out.
"It were ill manners to our friend; and he will lose us.

He knows not where we lodge in Rotterdam, and the city is large, and we have parted company once already." "Oh!" said Johnson, "we will provide for that.

My young man, ahem! I mean my secretary, shall sit here and wait, and bring him on to my house: he shall lodge with me and with no other." "Cousin, we shall be too burdensome." "Nay, nay; you shall see whether you are welcome or not, you and your friends, and your friends' friends, if need be; and I shall hear what the Princess would with him." Margaret felt a thrill of joy that Gerard should be lodged under the same roof with her; then she had a slight misgiving.
"But if your young man should be thoughtless, and go play, and Gerard miss him ?" "He go play?
He leave that spot where I put him, and bid him stay?
Ho! stand forth, Hans Cloterman." A figure clad in black serge and dark violet hose arose, and took two steps and stood before them without moving a muscle: a solemn, precise young man, the very statue of gravity and starched propriety.