The luminous appearance of the sea caused by
innumerable mollusca affords great pleasure to visitors, twenty thousand
of whom every year frequent this fashionable sea-bathing resort.
The second evening after the artists' arrival at Scheveningen, as they
sauntered along on the brick-paved terrace in sight of white sails and
setting sun, Alfonso was agreeably surprised to meet in company with her
mother, Christine de Ruyter, a young artist, whose acquaintance he had
made in the Louvre at Paris.
Christine's father, prominent for a long time in the vessel trade, had
recently died, leaving a fortune to his wife and two daughters, one of
whom, Fredrika was already married. They were descended from the famous
Admiral de Ruyter, who in 1673 defeated the united fleets of France and
England off the coast of Scheveningen, which fact added much of interest
to their annual visit to this resort. While Leo talked with the mother,
Alfonso listened to Christine, as she told much about the historic family
with which she was connected, and in return she learned somewhat of young
Harris's family and their visit to Europe.
Christine, who was about Alfonso's age, had fair complexion, light hair,
and soft blue eyes.
Pages:
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246