“Or I shall be an independent woman.”

“Heaven forbid. There is no reason to despair.”

Anke lowered the ring to the table, in obvious discomfort at our bickering. “I’ll see if the kitchen towels are dry on the line.”

She grabbed the basket and escaped outside, laughter entering behind her. A horse-pulled trekschuit was passing by on the canal. The antique barge carried tourists to the Rijksmuseum built on our street the year before. I would much rather have been going there myself as well.

Since I was stuck in the kitchen, I had to distract Mama before she progressed from dreams of grandchildren to actual matchmaking.

“Do you think I shall ever accomplish anything?” I asked her. “Will history remember my name?”

“What nonsense. The purpose of a woman’s life is to ensure that her husband is happy.” Her tone tipped, gently lecturing as she picked up her embroidery again. “Women are like the canals, steady and calm, the supporters of life. Men are like barges traveling to the seaports, having adventures and collecting their treasures. Wives are to husbands what canals are to barges. Important. Life in Amsterdam wouldn’t be possible without the canals.”

She looked inordinately pleased with herself at having explained it all so neatly.

“You know how much I want to be important to Eduard.”

Mien peeked at my journal over my shoulder. “What did he tell you when you two went boating last week?”

I snapped the cover shut. “He has given me every encouragement.”

“And has not returned since.”

“Oh, my Jo.” Mama patted my cheek. “How about Garrit? A widower, barely thirty and with five young children. He must marry soon. He asks about you every time I’m in his butcher shop. I wager he shall be visiting your papa with a special question before you know it. Then your purpose will be defined for you at last. Won’t that be splendid?”

Splendid drudgery.

“I sent in an application for a teaching position at the girls’ school in Utrecht.” I’d been holding the news until Papa was home as well, not wanting to have to fight the battle twice, but Mien’s needling pushed me too far.

Her smile bloomed syrupy sweet. “In the same town as Eduard’s university. Isn’t that a—”

Mama cut her off with a sharp glance. “Didn’t you promise Sanne you would join her at the park and help with the little ones, Mien?”

“Yes, Mama.” She snatched her hat from the table and hurried out the front door, just as Anke slipped in with the wicker basket of stiff linen through the back.

“You may start ironing.” Mama picked up her ring and began to untie the ribbon, ready to go about her own business.