The Golden Tulip Read Online Free Page B

that’s the end of it, I fear. Unfortunately Hendrick doesn’t like to be beaten at anything he undertakes and continues to teach her with the two older girls, hoping to coax some minor gift for art out of her. It would be far better if he didn’t.” She was thinking of the tempestuous scenes that resulted. Normally she could take such uproars in her stride, but since she had become pregnant again her nerves were constantly on edge. Maybe when her violent attacks of morning sickness passed she would regain the strength that was now drained from her at the start of every day.
    “I assume that Hendrick has indentured the two older girls to himself?”
    She was puzzled. “What do you mean?”
    “Only that if he judges them to be as good as you say, it’s high time he accepted them as his apprentices in preparation for when each will be ready to apply for a mastership of the Guild of Amsterdam. Nobody gets that honor without serving the obligatory six years under a master. Naturally neither may develop to that standard, but each should have her chance.”
    She remained doubtful. “I’m not sure that Hendrick would do as you suggest. He is happy enough to give the girls instruction when it suits him, but he hates to be tied down to anything not quite of his choosing. By making Francesca and Aletta his pupils officially he might feel himself to be under an obligation to teach them on a regular basis and that could be calamitous. As you know, it’s the reason why the few apprentices he has had in the past never stayed with him. I wish he had been more successful as a teacher. It must have given you great pleasure and satisfaction to see your pupils become splendid artists in their own right.”
    “That is true, Anna.”
    She recalled Hendrick’s fit of wild jealousy when he had thrown out one hapless youth, who had been misguided enough to fall in love with her, and trouble had resulted over the refunding of the tuition fees, Hendrick being in financial difficulties at the time. Four or five other pupils had left of their own free will at various intervals, protesting to their parents that Hendrick had no interest in whether they progressed or not, a legitimate complaint that permitted the dissolution of their indentures. As a result, he had gained the reputation of being a poor teacher and the fees that supplemented the income of other artists never came his way.
    “Nevertheless,” Rembrandt continued, “I do advise you not to let the young years of your two older girls slip by without indenture papers.”
    She saw the wisdom of what he advised, but to confront Hendrick with an outright request for them would have the outcome she had mentioned.
    Then there came an interruption as the faces of Aletta and Sybylla appeared at the window, both girls requesting that Cornelia return home with them for the noon meal and asking if afterward they could continue the games they were playing.
    “Yes, of course!” she replied willingly.
    Her daughters exclaimed with delight and parted to let Cornelia through to the window. Her bright face, much like her mother’s, beamed at Anna. “I thank you, Vrouw Visser.” Then to her father, she added, “Am I allowed, Father?”
    “Yes. You go and enjoy yourself.”
    “We’ll see her home about six,” Anna promised, rising to her feet. The streets were safe enough by daylight, but after dusk there were the same dangers in Amsterdam as in any other capital. The city militia patrolled the streets by night, but they could not be everywhere.
    Rembrandt rose from the bench too. “There’s no need. Titus will be in your area about that time and he can collect her.”
    On the way home, with the girls chattering together at her side, Anna pondered over the advice Rembrandt had given her. That afternoon a downpour of rain, forcing the girls indoors, gave her an unexpected opportunity to do something about it. She sat the children down at the kitchen table, getting Francesca to join them,