Part 48 (1/2)
”Yes, don't you remember? They came and said good-bye last week. They'll be back in twelve months.... Don't you remember? They thought they could live more cheaply in India....”
”Yes, yes, I remember,” said the old woman.
”India ... I wish I could go there myself....”
She felt as if she must go there to have warmth in and around her. And yet ... Ernst was back; and at the card-tables were Karel and Cateau; Adolphine and her little tribe; Otto and Frances were there; Van der Welcke, Dorine and Paul, Addie....
”There are a good many, after all,” she said to Constance. ”There are a great many.... But I miss ... I miss....”
”Whom, Mamma?”
”I miss my big lad ... I miss Gerrit. Where is Gerrit?”
”He hasn't been very well lately, Mamma. I don't think he'll come.”
”He's ill again....”
”Not ill, but....”
”Yes, he is, he's ill.... He's very seriously ill.... Constance....”
”What is it, Mamma?”
”You're the only one to whom I dare say it.... Constance, Gerrit is very ... very ill.... Hush ... he's ... he's dead!...”
”No, Mamma, he's not dead.”
”He is dead.”
”No, Mamma.”
”Yes, child.... Look, don't you see, in the other room?...”
”What, Mamma?”
”That he's dead.”
”No.”
”What do you see in the other room then?”
”Nothing, Mamma. I see the two card-tables and Karel and Adolphine and Adolphine's two girls playing cards.”
”And that light....”
”What light?”
”_All_ that light: don't you see it?”
”No, Mamma.”