“Yes, it’s all right now....”
She kissed Marianne. But the door opened and Van der Welcke entered.
“How do you do, Uncle?”
He always thought it odd when Marianne called him uncle, just like that:
“Is it you, Marianne?... Constance, did I leave my Figaro down here?”
“The Figaro? No....”
He hunted for his paper and then sat down.
“Uncle,” said Marianne, “I’ve just been telling Auntie, I’m so glad, I’m so glad that everything’s settled.”
“So am I, Marianne.”
Outside, the rain came pelting down, lashed by the howling wind. Inside, all was cosiness, with Constance pouring out the tea and telling them about Nice, while Marianne talked about Emilie and Van Raven and how they were not getting on very well together and how Otto and Frances were also beginning to squabble and how Mamma took it all to heart and allowed it to depress her: