“Very well,” said Anna, quietly, “then take this note to Mr. van Nerekool, you understand?”
“Oh yes, I know,” cried the girl; “he lives in Aboe Street close by the Catholic Church. But it is so far away, and it is now so late.”
“Then you had better tell Sodikromo, the gardener’s boy, to go with you,” said Anna. “You can take a ‘sâdos’ (dos-à-dos) and you will soon be there and back—So now quick—make haste.”
It did not take Sodikromo long to get the vehicle ready, and soon he and Dalima were on their way with the nonna’s message.
While this was going on in the pandoppo, Mr. and Mrs. van Gulpendam were receiving their guests, who kept on gradually arriving, with the courtesy and suavity they could so well put on.
“Well, that is kind of you, colonel, I call it really very kind of you to remain faithful to our little party,” said Laurentia to a gentleman who had just come in. He was in plain clothes; but his bearing and his white hair closely clipped and his bristling moustache plainly proclaimed him a soldier.
“And why, madam,” replied he, “what may have led you to suppose that I would have denied myself the pleasure of presenting myself here to-night?”
“Van Gulpendam has told me,” replied the hostess, “that there has been very ugly news from Atjeh, and that a considerable part of our garrison would have to leave. So I took it for granted that you would be much too busy to—”
“Do what, madam?” said the colonel, smiling.
“To come and take my hand here as usual?”