Chapter XXXIII
The next morning, Sunday, the doctor invited Walter into his study. He spoke to him sympathetically and encouraged the boy to lay his case before him; though he avoided everything that might make Walter believe that his experiences were anything extraordinary. He already knew more about it than Walter could tell. Even Walter’s adventure with Juffrouw Laps was perfectly transparent to him. There was nothing lost to him because of the boy’s lack of skill in handling the story.
While Walter poured out to him his inner experiences, Holsma listened quietly, as if it was all familiar to him. Walter’s reverence and passion for the good he interpreted as a commonplace phenomenon incident to budding youth. He treated the boy’s love for Femke as an ordinary matter. He admitted that it had been exactly the same way with him when he was a boy—a method that few parents and educators seem to be familiar with.
“Certainly, certainly, my boy. In such moods a fellow would like to be everywhere at the same time, ruling, regulating and putting things into order. He feels that he’s responsible for everything; and it hurts him to see so much crookedness in the world. I know very well how it is. But you must consider the means and remedies at your disposal. How are you going to begin to improve things?”
Walter was silent.
“Do you think that everyone is bad? I suppose you hardly think that. There are plenty of people in the world who wish for the same things that you are worrying about. Why don’t they change the world?”
Again Walter was silent. The very simplicity with which Holsma put the question disconcerted him.
“I will try to help you out. Do you believe that I am a good man?”
“Oh, yes!” cried Walter enthusiastically.