"I say, Sissy, you can't mean that!" said Gerrit.
"And, even if you don't think so, Gerrit, it's not nice of you to speak like that of your sister!"
"Oh, well, a little criticism!..."
"Yes, but to be always criticizing one another is horrid, I think," said Constance, angrily.
"I'm bound to say, though, that I think it a ramshackle party," said Uncle Ruyvenaer. "Who on earth are all these people?" he continued, putting on dignity, disdainfully. "I say, Toetie, are you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes, Papa, awfully!" said Toetie, as she passed on her partner's arm.
The Ruyvenaer girls, though no longer young, always enjoyed themselves "awfully," not caring whether it was at Bertha's or Adolphine's. Good-natured, kindly, simply and pleasantly Indian in their ways, they loved dancing, they always enjoyed themselves "awfully."
"And, Dotje, what do you think of my party?"
"Oh, Adolphine, so jolly your party: I'm enjoying it awfully."
And Dot also shone with gratitude and perspiration after dancing.