Amid so much suffering, she often sunk into despair before the cold hearth and empty pots, and no longer thought it worth while to plait her large cap and ruffs.

It was now Maria's turn to speak words of comfort, and remind her of her son, the Beggar captain, who would soon enter Leyden.
On the sixth of September the burgomaster's wife was returning home from an early walk.

Autumn mists darkened the air, and the sea-breeze drove a fine, drizzling spray through the streets.

The dripping trees had long since been robbed of their leaves, not by wind and storm, but by children and adults, who had carried the caterpillars' food to their kitchens as precious vegetables.
At the Schagensteg Maria saw Adrian, and overtook him.

The boy was sauntering idly along, counting aloud.