Page:Augusta Seaman--Jacqueline of the carrier pigeons.djvu/92

68 with a scanty supply of their rapidly diminishing stock of corn.

Vrouw Voorhaas had many questions to ask concerning the whereabouts of Gysbert  whom she had not seen that day. Jacqueline parried these as best she could, explaining that he had gone off early to execute some errands for Burgomaster Van der  Werf. Her companion, unconvinced that all was as it should be, and vaguely uneasy  about her youngest charge, accepted the  explanation somewhat distrustfully. To change the subject Jacqueline began to talk about their supply of food and to make plans  for husbanding it to the last crumb. While she was talking her gaze suddenly riveted  itself on the tall form of the older woman.

“Why Vrouw Voorhaas,” she exclaimed, “how thin thou art growing! See, thy dress dost hang about thee in great folds, and  thine arms almost show the bones! Surely we have not yet come to the pass when such