"How do you know it, Ina?"
"Papa is very much depressed since he's seen Uncle Daan."
"Yes, but how do you know that there's something the matter?"
The need to talk overcame Ina's prudence:
"Aunt Stefanie," she whispered, "I really couldn't help it ... but yesterday, when I went to fetch Uncle Daan and Papa in Uncle's study, I heard ... in the conservatory ..."
Aunt Stefanie, eager to learn, tremulously nodded her restless little bird's-head.
"I heard ... Papa and Uncle Daan talking for a moment. Of course I didn't listen; and they stopped speaking when I went in. But still I heard Uncle Daan say to Papa, 'Have you known it all this time?' And then Papa said, 'Yes, sixty years.'"
"Sixty years?" said Aunt Stefanie, in suspense. "That's ever since Ottilie was born. Perhaps it had to do with Ottilie. You know, Ina, Aunt Ottilie is ..."
"Takma's daughter?"
Aunt Stefanie nodded: