Adam was encouraged by the spirit of harmony in his new family. Madame Niel and her daughter-in-law cooperated in the managing of the household. Madame Niel was even solicitous during Katrin’s pregnancy. Things changed after Katrin lost her baby. She was distraught and try as they might the family could not find a way to console her. Adam, thinking unwisely that misery loves company, confided in her that Etienne was not really his son. Instead of consoling her, it had the opposite reaction. After she recovered and resumed her place in the household, she began to resent Etienne’s presence and her mother-in-law’s close possession of him. Over time, resentment toward these two turned to dislike and degenerated into hatred. Katrin found Madame Niel’s mood swings, ongoing brandy drinking and erratic behavior upsetting. The boy reminded her that she had failed to bring a child to birth. For her part, Madame Niel became convinced that Katrin, mourning her lost baby, wished to pry Etienne from her care. They struggled for dominance over issues as trivial as the placement of the soup tureen in the cupboard. Adam tried ineffectually to restore harmony but only the presence of the grandfather in the house kept matters in order. Then, the autumn when Etienne was seven, a party of raiding Spanish mercenaries, passed through the village. They did some minor looting and terrorizing which led to a scuffle with the villagers in the village center. In the confusion, Hubert Neil, shoemaker, was pushed down and trampled upon. Afterwards, his friends carried him home. He lasted three days before passing away from his injuries.
For more on the artist and the times see Note #10 in:
Pillage Scene by Sebastiaen Vrancx, painted early 17th Century, graphically portrays the terror and brutality of soldiers on the loose in between battles.
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