“Constance is our sister. . . .”
“Our sister, our sister! If my sister misconducts herself. . . .”
“Adolphine, Constance has been married to Van der Welcke for fourteen years; and there comes a time when one overlooks. . . .”
“But what are you going to do? Will you have her at your house?”
“Yes, of course.”
Adolphine had it at the tip of her jealous tongue to say, “And I suppose you’ll ask her to your big dinners,” but she restrained herself.
The younger nephews and nieces were also busily talking:
“Isn’t she here yet?”
“No, she’s coming later.”
“Is she old?”
“She’s between Uncle Gerrit and Aunt Adolphine. . . .”
“How nervous Grandmamma is!”
“Oh, she doesn’t strike me so! . . .”
“Why is she so late?”
“To make a triumphal entry. . . .”
“Oh, triumphal!” said Floortje, Adolphine’s daughter. “That would be the finishing touch!”
“There she is!”
“Yes, I hear some one on the stairs.”
“Granny’s gone outside to meet her.”
“And Aunt Dorine, too.”
“I’m awfully curious to. . . .”
