Gerdy had got up: she rushed outside, leaving the door open. A cold draught blew in. They all rose. The bell had rung; Truitje opened the door.
"Oh, Addie, Addie!" Gerdy exclaimed. "Is that you? Have you come back at last? We have missed you so frightfully!"
It was he. She flung herself into his arms and embraced him, with a little sob.
They all welcomed him home; they no longer noticed the draught, no longer heard the wind. They hardly ate anything now, hurriedly finishing their dinner.
"Come into the drawing-room," said Constance, "it's warmer there. I don't know why the dining-room should be so chilly."
"We'll set the stove going to-morrow," said Van der Welcke.
His face had brightened up out of recognition.
"Let's see how you're looking, old chap."
He, the father, was so much excited that the tears came to Addie's eyes. The others left the two of them together in the drawing-room with Van der Welcke while in the dimly-lighted dining-room the old woman seemed to be asleep.
"How are you, my boy?"