“It’s a beauty ... for two hundred and fifty,” said Mrs. van Oudijck.
“For three hundred then, dear mevrouw....”
“Three hundred?” she asked, dreamily, playing with the gem.
Whether it cost three hundred or four or five hundred was all one to her. It left her wholly indifferent. But she liked the stone and meant to have it, at whatever price. And therefore she quietly put the stone down and said:
“No, dear mevrouw, really ... it’s too expensive; and my husband has no money.”
She said it so prettily that there was no guessing her intention. She was adorably self-sacrificing as she spoke the words. Van Oudijck felt a second inward shock. He could refuse his wife nothing.
“Mevrouw,” he said, “you can leave the stone ... for three hundred guilders. But for God’s sake take your bottles away with you!”
Mrs. van Does looked up delightedly:
“There, what did I tell you? I knew for certain the residèn would buy for you!...”
Mrs. van Oudijck looked up in gentle reproach: