106 THE HALL OF SHELLS. 



was not needed in the cottage of her parents, 

 went to the lone mother of her betrothed and 

 labored for her support. When there were no 

 fish for her to bring to the markets of The 

 Hague, she came to Herr Witzman with shells 

 she gathered among the sad waves at Scheven- 

 ingen. The day of which I have told you she 

 had a small store of shells and was evidently 

 crossing to Herr Witzman's little shop when 

 thrown under the feet of the horses. 



" I bought the shells, giving their price into 

 the hand of Herr Witzman to be used toward 

 her burial. The day following I was myself 

 at Scheveningen. 



"I sat in one of the wicker-basket chairs 

 upon the wide sand beach when a curious 

 closed carriage drawn by a single strong horse 

 came down the sand and was driven out far 

 into the sea. A door opened and the lilylike 

 lady with golden hair descended into the 

 water, and with gay laughter sported among 

 the waves. 



" Again in the evening I saw her dancing 

 amid lights and gayety with the French count. 



"Neither of them thought, nor had hearts 

 worthy to think of Emilie, to whom a life of 

 hardship and of sorrow had given riches of 

 which they had no power to conceive." 



