Uncle Sybrand was holding up the money to pay for everything.
“Oh, M’neer, I’m afraid to go home after this,” cried Walter. “How can I pay for that? And my mother——”
In the noise and jumble Holsma did not understand; but Sietske understood.
“Sh!” she whispered. “Papa will pay for it all. Besides, I have money; and William, too; and Hermann. Just be quiet.”
Walter still did not understand. When, under the protection of the Holsmas, he was safe on the outside again, and the entire party had escaped the mob by taking a side street, he reiterated that he did dare show his face to his mother and Stoffel.
“It doesn’t make any difference about the money,” said Holsma. “I will attend to that. Why, boy, you’re scared half to death. You’re shaking. Come along home with us where you can rest a bit and quiet yourself.”
The distance, however, proved too short to have the desired quieting effect on Walter.
“My mother will be angry when I come home late.”
Holsma told him that a messenger should be sent to his mother at once, so that she would know where he was.
The doctor gave him a sedative and led him into a room adjoining that in which the Holsma family were sitting. Walter was to walk up and down the room till he felt better; but he soon got tired of this and did the very thing that he was not to do; he sat down on a sofa and fell asleep.