“No; with—as I said just now—with her brothers, Otto and Etienne.”
“Oh, indeed,” said the old lady indifferently; but she looked at her askance, whilst something like joy played in her lustreless eyes.
Eline smiled, a little embarrassed.
“I think you are a very naughty old lady,” she said, stroking her muff.
“Oh, people talk so much, you know; don’t they? One hears this one day, that the next; but still, sometimes one hears the truth too.”
“And what have you heard?”
“Something you ought to have told me long ago, if you had placed any confidence in me. Now I had to learn it from Betsy.”
Eline started.
“Did Betsy say——?” she stammered.
“Yes, deary; and I had much rather have heard it from you [[138]]first,” repeated Madame van Raat, feeling hurt, as an old lady who has been slighted.