“Yes; you laugh as much as you like,” murmured Lili with a smile, and she nestled herself more snugly in the chair. “I am warm and jolly here, and my feet are not cold and damp. You go and splash in the mud by yourselves!”
Freddie went to speak to Mr. Verstraeten, and Marie thought she would like a refresher, and she set about making a cup of tea. So the girls sat down; yes, Lili would like a cup of tea too, although she had not been out mud-splashing.
“How dark it is here, Lili! how could you see to read? Why, it’s enough to blind you, peering away in the dark like this!” cried Marie.
“But I have not been reading,” replied Lili, enjoying her dolce far niente.
“My lady has been musing,” mocked Freddie.
“Ah,” said Lili with a smile, “it’s grand, doing nothing at all—just dreaming the time away.”
And they all three burst out laughing at such a confession of [[49]]shameless laziness, when Madame Verstraeten came down, looking for her bunch of keys.
Frédérique said she had to go soon; she was asked to a dance at the Eekhofs’ that evening, and there were one or two things she had to see to yet, and Madame Verstraeten thought Lili much more sensible than Freddie and Marie, who were foolish enough to go shopping in such weather.
Again there was a ring at the bell.
It was Paul, bringing with him such a marked odour of wind and damp, that he was sent out of the room again to wipe his feet better.