And, as she walked, she thought:
“Oh, why did I go on like that to annoy them? And why didn’t I welcome Bertha’s visit at once?... It’s all so small, so petty....”
And she shrugged her shoulders under her umbrella, laughed at herself a little, because she had shown herself so petty.
Chapter VI
At Addie’s wish, at the little schoolboy’s wish, the Van der Welckes responded to Van Naghel’s advances and Constance sent a note. The visit was paid and the brothers-in-law shook hands. Van der Welcke himself shrugged his shoulders over the whole business; but Addie was pleased, started going for walks again with Frans and spoke to Karel again at the grammar-school, though he did not much care for him. Two days later, Marianne called in the afternoon, when the rain was coming down in torrents. Constance was at home. The girl stood in the door-way of the drawing-room:
“May I come in, Auntie?...”
“Of course, Marianne, do.”
“I don’t like to: I’m rather wet.”
“Nonsense, come in!”