Sometime after the funeral, soon after Twelfth Night, Madame Neil and Katrin quarreled. The precipitating event was Katrin’s desire to hire a new laundress. Katrin felt that old Huguette was not up to the job any longer, drank too much and was probably stealing from them and wished to replace her with her granddaughter. Madame Niel would not hear of it. Huguette was a loyal family retainer, even a friend and her dignity depended on her privileged position with them. What did it matter if she had a tumbler of bandy from their supply, now and then? The discussion swiftly degenerated; hostilities broke out. Adam, below in the workshop, heard the sounds of screaming voices and smashing crockery and rushed upstairs. He found their dining chamber, like a battlefield, strewn with broken dishes, his wife sobbing hysterically and Madame Niel barricaded in her chamber with Etienne. Katrin informed him, through shuddering breaths that she would be mistress in her own house or they had no marriage. Adam knew an ultimatum when he heard it. The time for compromise was over. Grimly he trudged upstairs to speak to his mother-in-law but discovered that she had barred her door and would not come out. He had no choice but to engage in a parley through the door. Madame Niel was adamant. Henceforth, she would have no dealings with that woman. She admitted she had no choice but to yield control of the household, therefore she would withdraw into the citadel of her bedchamber with Etienne. She only required that the servant bring them their meals, her daily tumbler of brandy, and empty the chamber pot. She also insisted that they have a safe conduct so that they could attend mass daily. Adam, as a way of arranging a truce agreed to these terms and asked to speak to Etienne but the boy was hiding under the bed too frightened to come out. Adam left. When he returned downstairs, he had made his decision. Without a word to Katrin he left the house, went directly to the priest, and asked him to pen a letter and have it sent to his brother, Jean Paul. In the letter, Adam forthrightly explained his circumstances and appealed to Jean Paul, as the boy’s godfather and uncle, to take him as an apprentice in the family business and give the grandmother hospitality as well. After all, Jean Paul and his partner employed many laborers, dockworkers and helpers; there must be room for one more boy. The priest, familiar with the family, endorsed Adam’s request. He returned to the house, informed Katrin that she was now mistress of the household and the terms of the truce. Then he returned to his workshop. Katrin immediately replaced Old Huguette the laundry woman. Over the next weeks while Adam waited anxiously for a response the parties strictly observed the terms of the truce. Katrin hinted a few times that this arrangement was ultimately not going to work but Adam’s stern response quieted her. Finally, the priest came by with a letter from Jean Paul. In it, he assured his brother that he would find a place for Etienne and the grandmother in his large family and bring up the boy in the family trade.
Katrin was relieved that Adam had found a solution that would improve her life. All that remained was to conclude the siege by offering honorable terms and send the surrendered garrison to Calais. They went upstairs and knocked on the door, requesting a conference. Madame Niel was not interested in another parley, even one under a flag of truce. Adam shouted through the door and explained the plan that he had devised as the only possible solution. Madame Niel refused outright. She denounced them for plotting to evict her from her own home. Adam, talking through the door, tried several times to get her to see that this was for the best. Finally, Katrin took direct action. She left and returned with Adam’s apprentice, Armel, a sturdy lad armed with a mallet. She thrust Adam out of the way and assumed command. She ordered Armel to make a frontal assault. Three times, he battered the gate with his heavy mallet until the latch was shattered and he kicked the door open, knocking aside the chair propped against it. In spite of her screams and struggles, he firmly grabbed the 65-year-old woman while Katrin captured the seven-year-old boy. They hauled them downstairs and pitched them into the wintry road. Then, her wrath finally fully ignited she pillaged their room, tossing their meager possessions out the door, screaming at them to be gone and never return, while the neighbors looked on in amazement. Then she retired, slamming the door behind her, victory assured.
Although shaken, Adam was relieved that the siege was broken. He gave instructions to Armel to bring the barrow around so they could move the old woman and the boy to the inn. Then he went out into the morning daylight under grey skies. There they were, standing forlornly in the snow among an assortment of clothing, dishes and blankets. Adam walked straight over to his mother-in-law and respectfully informed her that she and Etienne were no longer living in Sainte Marie Kerque. He had arranged for them to live with the boy’s uncle in Calais. He handed her a small purse and told her to go to the inn, get a room, and join the next caravan traveling to Calais. She said nothing but stared at him with hatred. Adam told her the address of his brother’s house in Calais but feeling that she was not listening, turned to Etienne, stooping down on one knee and carefully explained the arrangement and gave him the address, too. He paused, looking at Etienne, seeing his tear-stained face, the breeze ruffling his long, fine blonde hair and his dark brown eyes, Clemence’s eyes, staring back at him. It was the end. Adam knew it in his heart. He gathered Etienne into his arms for a last embrace, kissed him and said good-bye to his son and to Clemence and his youthful dreams and the one true love of his life. Armel arrived with the barrow and started gathering their goods. He watched them leave, following Armel, until they went around the corner and were lost to his sight. Then he squared his shoulders and returned to his house.
For more on daily life in 17th Century France see Note # 11 in:
A behind the siege lines view of the Siege of Ostende showing the intermingling of the military and civilian spheres. The language and metaphor of siege permeated daily life in the early 17th Century, especially in northeast France and the Netherlands. The Flemish painters added dogs to almost all their paintings. See how many you can count in this scene!
For the record I count four