"Well, what then? Keep quiet, don't read it don't upset yourself about it...."
But Van der Welcke came up to them. He was purple, there was no restraining him:
"I'm going to the fellow...."
"For God's sake, Van der Welcke!"
Uncle Ruyvenaer joined them:
"What are you doing in here? Oh, yes, that rag! It's disgraceful, it's disgraceful!"
"I want to read it!" cried Constance.
"No!" they all three exclaimed. "Don't read it!"
"Don't let Mamma notice!" Uncle Ruyvenaer warned them.
And he went away, full of suppressed excitement.