"Think of a Dutchman quoting that! However, even peasants in Holland break into English and German. Why shouldn't a Jonkheer spout Burns? But let me get to my point. I haven't found out what the trouble is, but I know you must have sinned against the girl in some way, or done something tactless, which is worse, and made her angry. Or else she felt it was her duty to be angry, and has been living up to it ever since. Talk of the 'way of a man with a maid!' The way of a maid with a man is funnier and more subtle. Nell Van Buren is an adorable girl, but the more adorable a girl is, the more horried she can be."
"That is subtle."
"Why, of course. What else should it be? And the whole thing's been as good as a play to watch. I wished you well from the beginning, but I thought you capable of taking care of yourself."
"And now you've changed your mind?"
"I have, since yesterday. I'm sure something happened at Amsterdam in the morning, she was so different. What did you do to her?"
"I bullied her a little," I said.
"I thought as much. How could you?"
"I believed it would be good for her."
"So it was. But it wasn't good for you."
"She has been angelic since."