Page:The silent prince - a story of the Netherlands (IA cu31924008716957).pdf/201



The voice ended in a mournful wail. Colonel Van Strallen started to find the singer, but a detaining hand was laid on his arm.

"Come away at once, my friend. You are attracting too much attention. Yonder poor woman is past help. It is crazy Margaret, who haunts the Square every time there is a public execution. Poor woman. Her husband and father were executed, and her babe sickened and died."

As they passed near the poor creature, Reynold noticed that she was young, and would have been beautiful had not sorrow and madness wasted her frame.

"The time is so long, Seigneurs!" she said plaintively, as her eye fell on their compassionate faces. "Will not the good Lord come soon and redeem His people, as He has promised?"

"Yes, poor woman, I hope so, I believe so!" said Reynold. "This nation will not always submit to the rule of tyranny."