“If the gentlemen will allow, I’ve something more to say,” said Marbaise.
“It’s Marbaise’s turn to speak.”
“We ought to forbid all Altenet girls marrying Prussians.”
“What about my Marieke, who’s courting with the Prussian doctor?” was Bloemstein’s terrified reply. “What a set-out my daughter will make—and, above all, my wife, when I tell them that.”
“Then you must just say that our country doesn’t permit it,” and the whole assembly nodded in token of assent.
“Oh, Lord!” groaned the unlucky President; “it’s the hardest thing you could ask me to do.”
“Our country! the Republic! the Independent Republic!” cried the others, wagging their heads hither and thither, shrugging up their shoulders, and holding out their hands with all their fingers extended in air.
“BOTH WALKED ON IN SILENCE.”
Here the weighty deliberations came to an end; and thereupon the President and his Ministers slowly proceeded homewards.