“And who may the happy couple be?” asked Mrs. Meidema somewhat more soberly.
“I may not tell you that, nja.”
“Oh!” said Gesina with much disappointment in her voice, “then it is not decided yet.”
“Yes,” replied Lim Yang Bing, “it is quite certain; it is so far decided indeed that I have samples of the silk with me now.”
“Samples of the silk!” cried both the young girls in a breath.
“Yes, the samples of silk. You surely must have heard, young ladies, that on such occasions the betrothed couple always make some little presents to the invited guests. And since you ladies will, I hope, honour me by witnessing the ceremony, I have ventured to bring the samples along with me. Very fine silk indeed; I ordered it on purpose from Nan Hioeng. But you must judge for yourselves, ladies.”
Therewith he produced a small parcel which he carefully unfastened and the contents of which he displayed to the women’s admiring gaze.
“Oh!” cried Gesina, “just look at that lovely green shot with red! what a charming dress that would make!”
“And,” exclaimed Matilda, “what a splendid blue! Dark blue with flowers. If I had to choose, I would—”
“And will not Mrs. Meidema make her choice?” asked Lim Yang Bing.