“Oh! not particularly. Perhaps it would be better to suspend our judgment of them for a little, Max.”
“I don’t see it,” said Max, sharply. “But, Jo, do you know what we might do?” he added, hastily, seeing her shrink at his vehemence, “go for a drive just now; then Jan can go too.”
“Oh! yes, papa,” cried Jan, delightfully, “and sit on the box.”
“My dear, the horses have been too far to-day already. Emily drove to the Chinese camp, and was out for more than two hours.”
“Indeed!” said Max. “Well, then, for goodness’ sake, let us stop at home. That will be very nice too, won’t it, Jan? and we’ll build a fortress.”
Jo was satisfied that the clouds were fast dispersing; she took her husband’s arm, and exerted herself to be specially bright and charming, chattering to him about the children, and all sorts of interesting things, and finally assisting at his toilet,—a favour he particularly enjoyed,—and prattling all manner of pretty compliments to him.
Max was in high good-humour when he left her to go for a turn with Jan.
When Jo appeared, after a hasty toilet, she found their cousins in the verandah before her, busy with the illustrated papers.
That was a most innocent pastime certainly; but, alas! Martendijk had taken possession of Max’s place and chair.
Now Mrs Van Elst was the most accommodating little person imaginable, and would have given up her chair to any one in the world; but she was quite different where Max was concerned.