It was Henk’s turn to smile now, and Etienne’s, who opened his eyes wide with amazement.
“There’s a sly old customer!” he cried, and held his finger up threateningly. “Who would have expected that this evening, now? what do you think of that?” [[150]]
Eline, however, still sobbing, relieved herself of Otto’s arm, and clasped Henk round his neck. He kissed her, and his big voice muttered kindly—
“Well, I will congratulate you, sissy, with all my heart. But the deuce! come, don’t cry like that—what’s the idea of that now? Come, give us a laugh now, for a change.”
In confusion she covered her face with her hands, and now Betsy thought that it was her turn to give her a kiss, and she just touched the dishevelled little locks.
“I am very satisfied with my little soirée, very satisfied!” she said significantly.
Henk wanted Otto to stay a little longer, Etienne was discreet enough to take himself off, but Eline whispered beseechingly that she was very tired, and Otto did not insist. He was too happy to wish for anything more; he would go, brimful of joy. And she thought it very nice of him that he took leave only with a shake of the hand, as she feared he would have kissed her before all of them.
The two brothers left, and Eline fled to her room, where she found Mina, who was just lighting the lamp. The servant-maids had heard the news from Gerard, who had come into the drawing-room at a very inopportune moment, and Mina congratulated her, and looked at her with an inquisitive smile about her lips.
“Thank you—thank you, Mina,” stammered Eline.
At last she was alone. She glanced in the mirror, and she started when she saw the tearful pallor of her face. Yet it seemed to her as though her soul glided away in a still, blue lake, that noiselessly covered her with its waters, a spot where an eternal peace seemed to reign, a Nirvana, the calm rapture of which was to her a new happiness. [[151]]