andatthesametimeheperceived，orthoughtheperceived，flatteringsymptomsofareciprocityofliking，andthiswasquitesufficienttodeterminewhateverindecisionhemighthaveheretoforeexperienced，andtoleadhimtodevoteexclusivelytohereveryhopeandfeelingofhisheart。Inshort，hewasasmuchinloveasaDutchmancouldbe。Hewasnotlonginmakinghispassionknowntotheprettymaidenherself，andhisdeclarationwasfollowedbyacorrespondingconfessionuponherpart。
Schalken，however，wasapoorman，andhepossessednocounterbalancingadvantagesofbirthorpositiontoinducetheoldmantoconsenttoaunionwhichmustinvolvehisnieceandwardinthestrugglingsanddifficultiesofayoungandnearlyfriendlessartist。Hewas，therefore，towaituntiltimehadfurnishedhimwithopportunity，andaccidentwithsuccess；andthen，ifhislabourswerefoundsufficientlylucrative，itwastobehopedthathisproposalsmightatleastbelistenedtobyherjealousguardian。Monthspassedaway，and，cheeredbythesmilesofthelittleRose，Schalken’slabourswereredoubled，andwithsucheffectandimprovementasreasonablytopromisetherealisationofhishopes，andnocontemptibleeminenceinhisart，beforemanyyearsshouldhaveelapsed。
Theevencourseofthischeeringprosperitywas，however，destinedtoexperienceasuddenandformidableinterruption，andthat，too，inamannersostrangeandmysteriousastobaffleallinvestigation，andthrowupontheeventsthemselvesashadowofalmostsupernaturalhorror。
Schalkenhadoneeveningremainedinthemaster’sstudioconsiderablylongerthanhismorevolatilecompanions，whohadgladlyavailedthemselvesoftheexcusewhichtheduskofeveningafforded，towithdrawfromtheirseveraltasks，inordertofinishadayoflabourinthejollityandconvivialityofthetavern。
ButSchalkenworkedforimprovement，orratherforlove。Besides，hewasnowengagedmerelyinsketchingadesign，anoperationwhich，unlikethatofcolouring，mightbecontinuedaslongastherewaslightsufficienttodistinguishbetweencanvasandcharcoal。Hehadnotthen，nor，indeed，untillongafter，discoveredthepeculiarpowersofhispencil，andhewasengagedincomposingagroupofextremelyroguish-lookingandgrotesqueimpsanddemons，whowereinflictingvariousingenioustormentsuponaperspiringandpot-belliedSt。Anthony，whoreclinedinthemidstofthem，apparentlyinthelaststageofdrunkenness。