"Guy could do his work in my study. I am never there in the mornings."
"No, no," said Adolphine, joining in. "No, Addie, it wouldn't do. Your mother's busy enough as it is...."
"It's not that I'm so busy," said Constance, "but...."
"Well, Mamma?"
"Our weekly books, you know...."
He had never known his mother so hard or so cruel. And he now said:
"Of course, Mamma, if you think it can't be done ... I'll see what I can do for Aunt Adolphine ... somewhere in the neighbourhood. Perhaps Marietje could go and live in a family at Zeist."
"Do you think you know some one there?" asked Adolphine, mournfully.
But suddenly Constance felt very yielding. She became so yielding because Addie had said this; all her hardness and cruelty melted away in remorse at her last words; and she said:
"Addie ... go upstairs and ... and ask Papa...."