And he clambered towards them and fought with Paul, whose big limbs, stretched at their full length, irritated him. Frédérique and Etienne raised themselves up, and admitted being hungry.
“Through doing nothing, I suppose?” cried Jan, who came to call them too. “We have been swinging and riding in the donkey-cart and climbing a haystack, and you—you can do nothing but doze.”
“Hush! more respect for age, please,” said Marie with dignity.
They all descended the path along which they had come, again struggling with the overhanging branches that barred their passage, when they heard a whistling behind them. On turning round they caught sight of Georges and Lili, full of mysterious gaiety.
“We have found a nice little spot, very cool!” said Georges ironically.
“Oh, so cool!” repeated Lili.
At that they became the butt of indignant glances, and so they wisely lagged behind a little; still they took good care to be in time to join the others at the lunch-table.
Madame Verstraeten and Mathilde had been very busy, notwithstanding the heat. On the coarse white table-cloth there arose heaps of little rolls, together with dishes full of cherries and strawberries, and a big basin of cream between two golden tulbands.[1] Sixteen chairs were ranged around the table, and the little van Ryssels, flushed with the heat, tired after running, with sparkling eyes and moist hair, looked at it all with longing. Nico was already seated at table rattling his fork against his glass, and all now sat down, and Madame Verstraeten and Mathilde were soon busy handing round the different things.
“De Woude, take what you like,” said Madame Verstraeten, and soon the spot resounded with noisy laughter, whilst the rolls and the tulbands disappeared as if by magic, and the fowls were running about nervously round the table, keeping close to Nico, who to Mathilde’s despair offered them immense slices of bread. Jan in the meantime found a fresh cause to reproach the three young men with their laziness.
Behind the farmhouse there was a broad stream, and a little boat lay moored alongside. Jan and Cateau wanted to disport themselves in it, but Madame Verstraeten would not permit them, [[186]]unless some one older than they accompanied them. So after lunch they stormed up to Paul and Etienne, who were to row them; Jan promised to be a good steersman.