The heavy rain had ceased, but the wind still shook the dripping branches.
It was half-past five when the door-bell rang once more.
“Half-past five!” exclaimed Frédérique. “I must go; I ought to have gone long ago; I have some bows to fix on my dress. Oh! I shall look bewitching to-night, all in flot de tulle! Where are my parcels, Marie?”
“There goes the bell; I wonder if there are any visitors,” said Lili.
Frédérique was about to go, when Dien came in to say that Mr. de Woude van Bergh was there.
“What! that unspeakable bore!”
“Oh, he’s not so bad,” said Paul.
“Well, I don’t care; I’m going to close the folding doors. I don’t wish to see him!” she continued, and she was just about to suit the action to the word.
“Come, Lili, don’t be so silly; come this way,” said Marie.
“No, thanks; you go by yourself,” she answered and closed the doors, just as de Woude entered the front drawing-room, where Marie received him. [[51]]