His father went on to say, "And a priest you shall be before the year is out, nilly-willy." "Is it so ?" cried Gerard.

"Then, hear me, all.

By God and St.Bavon I swear I will never be a priest while Margaret lives.

Since force is to decide it, and not love and duty, try force, father; but force shall not serve you, for the day I see the burgomaster come for me, I leave Tergou for ever, and Holland too, and my father's house, where it seems I have been valued all these years, not for myself, but for what is to be got out of me." And he flung out of the room white with anger and desperation.
"There!" cried Catherine, "that comes of driving young folks too hard.
But men are crueller than tigers, even to their own flesh and blood.
Now, Heaven forbid he should ever leave us, married or single." As Gerard came out of the house, his cheeks pale and his heart panting, he met Reicht Heynes: she had a message for him: Margaret Van Eyck desired to see him.

He found the old lady seated grim as a judge.