Page:Georges Eekhoud - Escal Vigor, a novel.djvu/160

136 with his boy and became more considerate towards him.

When, after a few months of so-called trial, the Dykgrave declared to the Burgomaster that he would definitely take upon himself the care of the pretended good-for-nothing, Claudie induced Michael Govaertz to accept this proposal.

The Burgomaster, who was very vain, had somewhat hesitated, because so far as he understood, the situation "of Guidon at the chateau would be that of an underling, or a valet, a little superior to Landrillon, but a valet all the same.

Although, when so long under his own roof, he had degraded his son, giving him the lowest place in his gang of labourers and leaving to him the dirtiest farm work, his paternal vanity would have suffered, to see him dependent on any other authority than his own. To justify his intervention, Kehlmark had submitted to the Govaertzes drawings, already very meritorious, of the young apprentice, but the father was no more capable than the daughter of understanding the promise contained in these first attempts.

"Let us accept the Dykgrave's offers,"