“Is this the first time he has been to see you?” asked Amélie.
“Yes,” replied Cecile. “An uncalled-for civility, don’t you think?”
“Taco Quaerts is always very correct in matters of etiquette,” said Anna, defending him.
“Still, this visit was hardly a matter of etiquette,” said Cecile, laughing merrily. “But Taco Quaerts seems to be quite infallible in the eyes of all of you.”
“He waltzes divinely!” cried Suzette. “The other day, at the Eekhofs’ dance....”
Suzette chattered on; there was no restraining Suzette that afternoon; she seemed already to hear the castanets rattling in her little brain.
Jules had a peevish fit on him, but he remained quietly at a window, with the boys.
“You don’t much care about Quaerts, do you, Auntie?” asked Anna.
“I don’t find him attractive,” said Cecile. “You know, I am easily influenced by my first impressions. I can’t help it, but I don’t like those very healthy, robust people, who look so strong and manly, as if they walked straight through life, clearing away everything that stands in their way. It may be morbid of me, but I can’t help it; I always dislike any excessive display of health and physical force. Those strong people look upon others who are not so strong as themselves much as the Spartans used to look upon their deformed children.”
Jules could control himself no longer: