"Mary saw something, I expect."
"Come, girls, let's go to bed."
"Do you dare sleep alone in your room, Adèletje?"
"Yes, Gerdy ... but leave the door open between us."
"Yes, that's nicer."
"Good-night then, darlings."
"Adèletje ... you won't think any more of dying, will you?" said Gerdy, moist-eyed. "Perhaps I shall be dead before you are."
"Hush, darling! How can you talk like that?... I'm delicate and ugly.... You're strong, you're pretty."
"I may be dead first, for all that!" said Gerdy, sobbing.
"Gerdy, don't excite yourself so," said Marietje. "That's because we've been talking about it. Now you won't sleep all night."