But the other side had a horrible ally in Catherine, senior.

This good-hearted but uneducated woman could not, like her daughter, act quietly and firmly: still less could she act upon a plan.

She irritated Gerard at times, and so helped him; for anger is a great sustainer of the courage: at others she turned round in a moment and made onslaughts on her own forces.

To take a single instance out of many: one day that they were all at home, Catherine and all, Cornelis said: "Our Gerard wed Margaret Brandt?
Why, it is hunger marrying thirst." "And what will it be when you marry ?" cried Catherine.

"Gerard can paint, Gerard can write, but what can you do to keep a woman, ye lazy loon?
Nought but wait for your father's shoon.