Het onderwijzeresje

Mr. van Welderen, a former military officer forced into early retirement following a debilitating horse riding accident, lies on his couch in the living room. The injury left him invalid, in constant pain, and unable to walk more than a few steps. This misfortune brought severe financial strain to the household, as he and his resilient, cheerful wife have to raise five children—Mathea, Margerita, Jan, Bets, and Nico—on a limited pension. To alleviate their financial burdens, Mr. van Welderen attempts to earn extra income through translating and writing military sketches, though his frequent pain often disrupts his work. The eldest daughter, nineteen-year-old Mathea (Thea), has dedicated herself to studying intensely to become a teacher so she can earn money and relieve her father's financial worries. Having already passed her lower education exam in April, she spent the subsequent five months preparing for her English certification. Today is the day of her examination, and Mr. van Welderen is overcome with restless anxiety while waiting for her return, unable to read or focus on any task. His wife attempts to soothe his nerves and maintain an optimistic outlook, even as he expresses deep guilt over his inability to provide for the family and fund young Nico's school tuition. As the afternoon progresses, thirteen-year-old Jan and young Nico return from playing outside. Jan takes his place at the window to watch for his sisters. Suddenly, Jan spots two figures approaching in the distance and excitedly announces that Thea is running toward the house while waving a white paper, signaling her success. Mrs. van Welderen rushes to open the door, greeting Thea and her sixteen-year-old sister, Margerita (Ita), who is dancing with joy. Thea bursts into the living room and shares an emotional, tearful embrace with her relieved father. The entire family gathers around to celebrate her achievement. Nico presents her with a bouquet of roses, and Thea enthusiastically details how smoothly the examination went once her initial nervousness subsided. To commemorate the milestone, Mrs. van Welderen brings in a tray of eggnog and biscuits. The family toasts to Thea’s success amid cheers and laughter. Shortly after the celebration begins, ten-year-old Bets returns home from school, eagerly anticipating the good news and the treat. After congratulating her sister, Bets contentedly joins the gathering, expressing her relief that she does not have to retract the proud announcements she had already made to her schoolmates.

On a bleak October day, nineteen-year-old Mathea (Thea) sits in a melancholy mood, overwhelmed by her family's escalating financial burdens and her father's worsening physical pain. For two months, she has been unsuccessfully applying for teaching positions, putting immense pressure on her desire to alleviate her parents' financial struggles. Her anxiety distracts her from tutoring her young brother, Nico, who takes advantage of her daydreaming to escape the room. Upon realizing he left, Thea discovers Nico complaining to their invalid father about her lack of attention, pleading to be sent to a proper school instead. Mr. van Welderen severely reprimands Nico for his disobedience and orders him to apologize, leaving Thea feeling deeply guilty for causing her father stress. After comforting Nico and re-establishing her authority, she manages to lead a productive lesson, recognizing that tutoring her own brother lacks the mutual respect she would receive from foreign students. Later that afternoon, Thea is called to the living room by her parents. Her father presents a letter offering her a live-in position as a governess for a Dutch family residing in Brussels. Recommended by a close family friend, the position offers a generous salary of three hundred guilders alongside free room and board. Furthermore, it presents an excellent opportunity for Thea to refine her French. However, the realization that she must move away to a foreign city fills her with immense dread. Recognizing her distress, her father kindly tells her she is under no obligation to accept, while her mother gently advises against rejecting such a rare opportunity out of pure emotion, giving her until evening to decide. Retreating to her bedroom, Thea breaks down in tears. She had always envisioned securing a local position that would allow her to return to a supportive home every evening. The prospect of living alone among strangers in an unfamiliar city terrifies her, yet she understands that refusing the position would be cowardly and unfaithful to her duty of helping her parents. Resolving to face the challenge, she washes her face and decides to commit entirely to the opportunity so her father will not blame himself for her departure. Thea returns downstairs to announce her final decision. Despite her father’s warnings that she cannot back out once her word is given, she firmly requests that he write the acceptance letter immediately. To maintain an optimistic front, she immediately begins discussing her winter wardrobe preparations with her mother, accepting her new path with determined maturity.