“You needn’t think I’ll ever give you anything again!... You’re not worth it!”

“That’s right, then you can give everything to your sister: you’re fonder of Louise as it is ... you’re in love with Louise. R-r-rootsh!... R-r-rootsh!”

And she sent the fan flying across the room, in pieces.

“Eh, njonja!”[4] said the baboe in mild astonishment.

“You’re a regular nonna,[5] that’s what you are!” said Otto, flushing angrily.

But his wife laughed. The broken fan had relieved her, made her feel livelier:

“Give me that other fan, baboe.”

She was ready. She looked at her face in the glass, added a touch of powder and smiled. She thought that she looked nice, though she was a little pale and thin. Suddenly, she sat down, straight up in a chair:

“I feel so faint!” she murmured.

Louise went to her: