Lili raised herself a little, and from her tear-stained face she brushed away the dishevelled hair with her hands.
“What would you have me say, then? You know all. There is nothing that Georges can do finds any more favour in mamma’s eyes.”
“Come, you exaggerate. Both papa and mamma like him very much.”
“Oh yes; I know. But if it comes to showing him a little courtesy—And you too——”
“What then?”
“Didn’t you say he was a stranger, who could not be asked?”
“If I had known that that would have caused you pain, I should have said something else. Only I can’t bear to see you agitating yourself about nothing, Lili. Why, you carry on as though your life were for ever ruined, and all that because mamma thinks it better not to ask de Woude.”
“Well, it isn’t very pleasant for me. I have—I have already spoken to him about the picnic, and—of course he expects to be invited.” [[178]]
“But why are you so hasty, then? ’Tisn’t very nice for mamma either, when people begin to talk about you two. Only yesterday Madame Eekhof asked——”
“What do we care about Madame Eekhof, if we like each other? If you were to trouble yourself about everybody——”