And they continued to tease her, whilst the cherries rained thick and fast in everybody’s lap, amid general laughter. The road grew hilly, whilst in the distance the duny heights arose. Here and there was a villa, hidden amid the foliage, or a farm-house, with fields of turnips and cauliflowers, and rows of climbing beans, or a little garden full of sunflowers, geraniums, and tuberoses. A washerwoman busily wringing clothes by the side of a ditch raised herself up and smiled, and two peasant children ran behind the carriage to catch the cherries which Jan and Cateau threw to them.
The road undulated between yellow fields of oats and flax, bespeckled with the blue and red of corn-flowers and wild peas, until at length the farm-house was reached. The farmer’s wife appeared at the gate with a kindly smile, and from all sides they sprang from the brake, while Madame Verstraeten and Mathilde lifted down an array of boxes, baskets, and hampers. The driver got down from the box and led his steaming horses to the stable. Jan Verstraeten, little Cateau, and the young van Ryssels soon took possession of the two swings. Jan had promised Madame van Ryssel that he would be careful, and Cateau would look after Nico.
“They are just like a married couple with their offspring!” laughed Marie, as she followed them with her eyes.
“I’ll drive them all away from the swing in a moment; I want to swing as well,” cried Etienne noisily, intoxicated with the sun and the fresh air. “Lili, will you have a swing with me presently?—at least, if de Woude does not mind,” he whispered, with longing eyes.
“De Woude has nothing to say about me. But I don’t care for swinging, it gives me a headache, thanks.”
“I am madly fond of it, Eetje,” cried Marie; “I shall be ready in a moment; but high, very high, do you hear? Up to the clouds.” [[181]]
“Come, let us go and look for a nice little spot, a little further on the dunes,” said Paul.
“Oh, of course; Paul is thinking of his comfort again. But the dunes are very hot, Paully,” said Freddie.
“No; there are trees, oaks I think, the other side of the pavilion.”
“Right away, then. It really is too hot to bustle about much. I am of Paul’s opinion; I like a lazy picnic: lounging in the shade and watching the clouds overhead,” lisped Lili.