Part 46 (1/2)
One cry came from Dr. Holsma's coachman, who was driving up hurriedly; the other cry meant that two boys, who were fis.h.i.+ng in the ditch for frogs, had caught Walter's cap.
Walter accepted his lost property without question or complaint; while Kaatje, with tears in her eyes, ran up to Dr. Holsma to explain what was the matter.
”Is it really so bad?” asked that gentleman presently.
He approached Walter, who was shaking the mud from his cap, glad to think that he was concealing his embarra.s.sment and fright.
”Well, my boy, it's a good thing I met you here. I wanted to ask you if you wouldn't like to take dinner with us this evening. Afterwards we will all go out for a little amus.e.m.e.nt, if you like.”
That was the tone Walter needed to hear. He burst into tears.
”Thank you, thank you! That will be nice for my mother, too.”
Holsma motioned to Kaatje, who had timidly retired to the background.
”Go to Juffrouw Pieterse and tell her that the young gentleman dines with us, and that he is going to spend the evening with us.”
”Yes,” cried Walter quickly, ”and----”
The doctor looked at him anxiously. He was afraid that he saw symptoms of the alleged mental disorder; but Walter's eye was calm and gave no ground for fear.
”M'neer, can't she say too that I----”
”Out with it, my boy! What have you on your heart?”
”That I was with you--all day!”
Holsma reflected.
”Certainly,” he said, ”all day.”
”From early this morning--from seven o'clock on.”
”From seven o'clock on,” the doctor repeated.
”And--I ate breakfast at your house.”
”Certainly, the young gentleman ate breakfast at our house. To be sure, he ate breakfast with us. Kaatje, you can ride in the carriage with us.”
As Holsma helped Walter in he gave the coachman directions to stop at Juffrouw Pieterse's, where ”the girl” was ”to leave a message.” When he took a seat by his protege, Walter pressed his hand and exclaimed: ”Oh, what a good fortune it is that I found you!”
”Do you think so? It was only a--mere accident. Mrs. Claus is a----”
”A cousin?” interrupted Walter.
”Yes, and she's a good woman,” said Holsma. ”She is a cousin of ours, and I came to visit her. I do that every week, not as a physician, but as a kinsman. You can go to see her as much as you like: nothing will hurt you there.”
”M'neer!” exclaimed Walter suddenly--and he caught his breath--”I think so much of Femke!”
”So?” answered Holsma dryly. ”I do too.”