“Mamma, mamma!” the child cried, as she jumped down the last steps.
“I say, Tine, Johan, what a noise you are making! What are you doing, you two?” asked Madame van Ryssel severely.
“Jo is always teasing me; Jo wants to tickle me, and he knows I [[53]]can’t bear it,” panted the girl, and she hid herself behind her grandma’s petticoats, whilst Frédérique caught hold of Johan.
“I told you before that I won’t have all that running and noise in the house!” resumed Madame van Ryssel. “I wish you would remember that grandma cannot bear it.”
“Never mind,” said Madame van Erlevoort kindly, “they were only playing; eh, Tine?”
“Look out, do you hear, or I’ll tickle you!” cried Frédérique, and she tickled Johan under his little arms, so that he fell, struggling and crowing, on the floor.
“Mais comme vous les gâtez, toutes les deux! ne les choyez donc pas, quand je suis fâchée. Je perdrai tout mon pouvoir, si vous continuez ainsi!” exclaimed Madame van Ryssel despairingly, as she glanced over the banisters, for down below Madeline and Nikolaas were giving Miss Frantzen a terrible trouble and would not go up-stairs with her.
“Lientje, Nico!” cried Madame van Ryssel in her severest tones.
“Come, Mathilde, do leave the children alone for a moment, and come and look at my dress!” Freddie implored.
“I can’t keep them in order any longer, really,” said Mathilde, with a sigh of despair.