CHAPTER XXII.
A SALE AT BANJOE PAHIT.
On a Saturday evening, about a fortnight after, a great number of young people were assembled in the open air at the round table before the verandah of Concordia, the club at Santjoemeh. It was a gala-night and consequently all the élite of Santjoemeh had turned out. The gentlemen were for the most part inside the club-house, or strolling about within the grounds, the ladies, either on foot or reclining in elegant carriages, were promenading and enjoying the splendid evening which the full moon, at nine o’clock high up in the heavens, rendered still more delightful, and listening to the excellent music of the band.
Within the club-house were seated some elderly ladies and gentlemen, gravely and solemnly playing a game at cards; the young people lounged in the front gallery, while the gayer and more restless spirits among them sought the open air and were, as we said above, grouped round the table in front of the outer gallery. There they found themselves in full view of the ladies whose glances they were glad to receive and ready to repay with interest.
“Look yonder,” cried one of this group, “there goes pretty little Celine with her mother and her aunt!”
“Yes,” replied another, “and Hermance on horseback; I think her a much prettier girl.”
“I say, look out! there comes the Resident’s carriage.”
“Aye, I see with fair Laurentia. She is no doubt coming to take a hand. Just look how attentive van Rheijn is to her. Quite the gallant—he is helping her down—now he offers his arm!”
“Of course! the njonja of Kandjeng toean Resident!”