Part 27 (1/2)

”Oh, so you dole out your favours?”

He gave her a kiss, but she pouted, said she would go alone, in the Scheveningen tram, which would take her to Granny's door. But he drew her down upon his little knees:

”Let's play at sweethearts first, then.”

”No, let me go.”

But he held her tight and kissed her with very short, quick kisses.

”Let me go, Addie, I insist.”

But he kissed her with a rain of quick little kisses, which tickled her, till she smiled.

”Look pleasant now!”

”No, I won't!”

”Come, look pleasant!”

”No, I won't look pleasant!”

But she was laughing, saw that her jealousy was really too silly....

And Van der Welcke, after dinner, was glad that it was his turn. He had come back very gloomy from the Plaats; and Addie had cheered him up during dinner.... Sometimes, even, Addie went quite mad. Then he wanted to romp with his father; and Van der Welcke did not object, until Addie discovered a little spot between Papa's brace-b.u.t.tons where he was very sensitive and tickled him, furiously, just on that little spot.

”Addie, that's enough!” Van der Welcke shouted, playing the father, trying to inspire respect.

But Addie, quite mad, caught Papa round the waist, tickled him on that sensitive spot.

”Addie, I'll give you a thras.h.i.+ng!”

And Van der Welcke squirmed, nervously, ran madly round the room, ran out of the room, followed by his tormentor.

”Addie, if you don't leave off, you'll get such a thras.h.i.+ng that you...!”

But there was no holding the boy; and Van der Welcke, because of that sensitive spot, lost all his self-respect, cringed, entreated, laughed like a madman when Addie so much as pointed at it.

”Addie, don't be so silly!” cried Constance from the drawing-room.

Then he rushed to his mother.

”Hullo, are you jealous again? Do you want to play at sweethearts?”

But his father called to him, reproachfully:

”Come, Addie, let us start.”

And Addie ran from one to the other like a little dog and at last landed on his bicycle with a ridiculous jump; and Constance stealthily watched him spurting past Van der Welcke, leaning forward over his handle-bar, pedalling like mad.

Then she felt happy, because he was merry, like a child....