"I told you on Tuesday, Bertha, I am going to make my fifteen years count."
"Constance, don't attempt impossibilities."
"What's an impossibility?"
"Don't think only of yourself. Think of us. Think of Van Naghel, of his position. You make it impossible for him, if you insist on...."
"Coming to your at-home days....?"
"For goodness' sake, Constance, don't be angry. It is impossible."
"What is?"
"For you to...."
"What?"
"To force the position. When Mamma spoke to us, eight months ago, about you coming to the Hague, Van Naghel at once said that our house was open to you and your husband, but that you must not push and assert yourselves."