"I'm glad to see you again, Sissy," said Gerrit. "I never see you at all, now that we don't meet at Mamma's."
"Well, you don't miss much."
"I can't say you're very amiable to-day. Have you such a thing as a glass of beer for me?"
"No, I haven't any beer."
"What are you drinking then?"
"Water, as you see."
"Oh, do you drink nothing but water? Well, then I'll have a glass of water too. I'm not very hungry either," said Gerrit, fibbing, for he was always hungry. "And, tell me, Dorine: don't you intend to run down to Nunspeet?"
"Ye-es," said Dorine, dubiously. "I ought really to go to Nunspeet.... Mamma's written to me, so has Adeline ... but I don't know how to fit it in."
"How do you mean, to fit it in?"
"Well, with the things I've got to do here."