It seemed as if Mamma wished to talk about it; but Constance, with an affected indifference to her relations’ affairs, asked no questions.
The next evening, Constance and Addie were ready to start for the Alexanderstraat.
“Aren’t you coming?” she asked Van der Welcke.
He hesitated. He would rather not go, feeling unfriendly towards the whole family, but he would have liked to see Marianne. Still he said:
“No, I think not.”
He was afraid that his refusal would cause a scene; but latterly, even though anger welled up inside her, she had shown a forbearance which surprised him; and she merely said:
“Mamma would like us all to come again.”
He was really fond of the old lady: she had always been kind to him.
“Who will be there?” he asked.
“Why, all of them!” she said. “As usual.”