"Not a dinner-party. Van Vreeswijck and Paul are dining with us."
"Van Vreeswijck? Oh!" said Adolphine.
"The one at Court?"
"He's a chamberlain of the Regent's," said Constance, simply.
"Oh!"
"He's an old friend of Van der Welcke's," said Constance, almost in self-excuse.
"Oh! Well, then I won't disturb you...."
The dining-room door was open. Adolphine peeped in and saw the three men talking over their dessert. She saw the candles, the flowers, the dinner-jackets of the men; she noticed Constance' dress....
"Do come in, Adolphine," said Constance, mastering herself and in her gentlest voice.
"No, thanks. If you're having a dinner-party, I won't come in, at dessert.... Oof! How hot it is in here, Constance: do you still keep on fires? It's suffocating in your house; and so dark, with those candles. How pale you look! Aren't you feeling well?"