And with that he went back to his game of cards.
This time, the leave-taking was genuine. Petrus got up; and it was good-bye till next year, when Doorke would make his first communion.
The cart was waiting outside the door; they stepped in, uncle took the reins.
“A safe ride home!”
“Thanks for the pleasant visit! And to our next merry meeting!”
“God speed!... Good-night!”
“Gee up!”
The dogs sprang forward, the cart rumbled along and soon the whole thing had become a shapeless black patch among the black trees. In the still night they could just hear the wheels rattling over the cobbles; and then Ivo and Frazie went home again.
A breeze came playing through the garden, sighing now and again with a sound as soft as silk; the moon shone upon the dark trees and its light played like golden snow-flakes dancing and fluttering down upon the gleaming crests of the green bushes and the milk-white plain. The air was heavy and stifling, full of warm damp; and strong-scented gusts of fresh, rain-laden perfumes blew across the road.
They stepped hurriedly on the legs of their long shadows and did not speak. There came a new rustling in the trees and a few big, cool drops of rain pattered on the sand, one here, one there and gradually quicker.