Part 59 (1/2)

”Listen to the rain.”

”The sky is black.”

”What's the time?”

”Almost dinner-time.”

”There goes the bell.”

”Shall we go downstairs?”

They went down the dark staircase. The wind howled round the house. The old lady was sitting at the window of the conservatory at the back when Constance and Brauws entered.

”It's blowing hard,” she said. ”There are great branches falling from the trees in the garden.”

”Aren't you too cold in here, Mamma?”

The old woman did not understand; and Constance put a shawl over her shoulders:

”Will you come in, Mamma, when you feel too cold?”

The old woman nodded, without understanding. She remained sitting where she was. She had already had something to eat, with Marietje to wait on her: she never sat down to table with the others.

The second bell rang.

”Come,” said Constance.

Paul was there and noticed how miserable Van der Welcke looked:

”What's the matter?” he asked.

Van der Welcke was carving:

”I loathe carving,” he said. ”Addie always used to do it, or Guy.”

”I never learnt how,” said Paul, secretly fearing the gravy.

”Give it to me, Hans,” said Brauws.

They were silent round the table; the wind howled outside.

”The gas is burning badly,” said Constance.

”How nice-looking Mary is growing now that she's down here!” said Paul.

”There, you needn't go blus.h.i.+ng: your old uncle may surely pay you a compliment.”

”Well, Uncle Paul, I'm not as young as all that myself: I'm getting on for thirty.”

”And you, Klaasje,” said Paul, ”you're eating like a grown-up person.”