Barbara hurried to get the cookies from the jar in the corner shelf.
Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know. Give him a cookie too, of course."
She heard Mother ask George, "Who is with you?" st
Barbara waited for his answer. She had been wondering too.
"My cousin Willem," George said. "He came with his father and
r place yesterday. They live in Amsterdam, but they
mother to our
came for a visit."
Barbara handed a cookie to each of the boys, and they left.
"Did you know Mrs. Claess was sending the grapes?" Barbara
asked, picking up the basket and bringing it to show the grapes to
her mother.
lory
fect,
"No, I didn't."
"Doesn't it seem strange, Mother?"
"She likely just wanted to give us something."
"No, I mean that she told us to give some to Cornelis Sternes. Why
would she send them something?"
I me too," Mother admitted. "They haven't been
That surprised
so friendly since Joos seems to be interested in our faith. But perhaps
Mrs. Claess hopes that they will become more open. Though it
doesn't seem like her to make mention of the basket."
"But why didn't she have the boys deliver the grapes, instead of
telling us to?"
"Well, maybe they were in a hurry."
"I still think it's strange," Barbara said. "Will you send some of the
Mother?"
grapes,
"Why yes, I suppose we should. Maybe Father could take them
tonight when he comes home. Only I don't know if he will want to
Cornelis especially has been unfriendly lately. Father told me he
thinks that Cornelis suspects him of influencing Joos, since they work
together sometimes." Joos was Cornelis's oldest son, but he did not
share his parents' distrust of the Anabaptists.
what city was mentioned?