“Yes, my dear, I dreamed of a butterfly; and it was dragging off an elephant! You understand now?”
“Oh, yes, Juffrouw. I understand exactly.”
“Don’t you see? That’s the reason. Give the doctor my politest regards, and thank him for me. If he’s only well-behaved—I mean Walter. And the coachman wears such a fur cap only in the winter?”
Kaatje managed to escape, fully resolved never to dream of elephants and butterflies. Such an indulgence seemed to her to be particularly dangerous; for she now began to think in all seriousness that the whole family was crazy, and that what she had seen in Walter was merely a sample of the general disorder.
When a few hours later the doctor himself stopped at Juffrouw Pieterse’s, her joy over Walter’s exaltation know no bounds. Holsma took note of the stupid woman’s foibles and follies, and resolved to prescribe an intellectual diet for Walter that would counteract their influence.
Poor Juffrouw Laps! If she had only known how happily everything had turned out, how much worry she might have spared herself! In the seclusion of her own room she was still quoting the Bible and fighting for her honor.
Chapter XXXII
The reader is now invited to return to the theatre party, from which he was called suddenly away by the anxiety experienced in certain quarters over Walter’s disappearance.
The family took their seats, in the parquet this time, having had to give up their box to visiting potentates. The box was still unoccupied.