blematic employments. There it does not happen, that a family suddenly loses all through a change of fortuneand of this kind were generally the rocks on which the good intentions of Havelaar had made shipwreck. The number of Europeans in this district was too small to be noticed; and the Javanese at Lebak were too poor to become interesting through any increase of poverty. Tine did not think of all this; for then she ought to have thought more than her love for Max permitted of the causes of their less favourable circumstances. There was something, however, in their new surroundings that breathed a calm, an absence of all cases of falsely romantic appearance, which had made Havelaar so often say in former days: “Is not this, Tine, a case from which I cannot withdraw?” And the answer always was: “Certainly, Max, you cannot withdraw from it.”
We shall see how the simple, apparently still life of Lebak, cost Havelaar more than all the former excesses of his heart taken together.
But that they did not know! They expected the future with confidence, and were so happy in their love, and in the possession of their child.
“How full this garden is of roses!” said Tine, “ and look at the rampeh, and tjempaka, and melati,[1] and beautiful lilies.”
And children as they were, they were delighted with
- ↑ Flowers.
