First he murmured softly: "Heavy, too heavy," and then: "If I can only bear it." When she awoke next morning, he had already left the room and gone to the town-hall.

At noon he returned home, saying that the Spaniards had taken the Hague and been hailed with delight by the pitiful adherents of the king.

Fortunately, the well-disposed citizens and Beggars had had time to escape to Delft, for brave Nicolas Ruichhaver had held the foe in check for a time at Geestburg.

The west was still open, and the newly-fortified fort of Valkenburg, garrisoned by the English soldiers, would not be so easy to storm.

On the east, other British auxiliaries were posted at Alfen in the Spaniards' rear.
The burgomaster told all this unasked, but did not speak as freely and naturally as when conversing with men.