"No-o!" whined the little girl, like a very small child. "I'm not naughty!"
"Yes, you are. It's not at all nice of you to push Mathilde away. You must never do that again, do you hear?"
"Oh, let the child be, Mamma!" said Mathilde, wearily.
The child looked up at Constance with such an unhappy expression in her face that Constance put her hand on her head again; and, at once forgetting everything, Klaasje now looked at her book and even hummed softly as she showed herself the pictures.
Gerdy was pouring out Mathilde's tea. There it was again: she had spilt the milk; the tea-tray was one white puddle! However, she mopped it up with a tea-cloth and now handed the cup to Mathilde.
Mathilde tasted it:
"Did you put any sugar in?"
"Yes, one lump."
"I never take sugar."
"Oh!... Shall I give you another cup?"