Thereupon Frédérique declared that she must be going; she had been invited to the soirée dansante at the Eekhofs that evening, and still had some details to see to regarding her party dress. Madame Verstraeten pronounced it very sensible of Lili to have stayed indoors when it was raining cats and dogs, unlike Freddie and Marie.
. .
Again there was a ring at the door. This time it was Paul, bringing with him so much cold and wet that he was sent out of the room again to wipe his shoes properly.
‘Such abominable weather!’ he sighed, glad to be permitted to settle into an armchair at last.
Leaving the young people to themselves, Madame Verstraeten moved to the conservatory to sit with her husband who, however, hearing of Paul’s arrival, came forward to greet him.
‘Hello, Uncle.’
‘Well hello, Paul, how are you? And how is your mama?’
‘Oh I’m very well, Uncle, and Mama is well too; when I left home she was immersed in a book lent to her by Eline.’
‘Tell me, have you paid a visit to Hovel yet?’
‘No, Uncle, not yet, I’m afraid.’
‘Well, don’t leave it too long. Hovel is anxious to make your acquaintance.’
‘Paul, you said you were going to see Hovel four days ago!’ cried Marie. ‘How can you take so long to make up your mind to do it? It’s not as if it’s a long journey, is it?’
‘I was planning to go tomorrow.’
‘Well, I hope you do. I suggest you call at half-past six, he is always at home at that hour. I urgently advise you not to put it off any longer!’ said Uncle Verstraeten, with a gleam of annoyance in his otherwise cheerful dark brown eyes as he returned to the conservatory with unwonted briskness.
‘Paul, you naughty boy!’ said Frédérique, shaking her head. ‘How could you be so lazy? You’re worse than Lili.’
‘I’ll do it tomorrow for sure,’ said Paul gruffly, lifting his cup of tea.
‘You’re nothing if not lazy,’ Marie pursued, unafraid of his temper. ‘And to be honest, we all disapprove.’
‘You’re not going to give me a lecture now, are you, you old granny?’
‘I don’t care what you call me, I’m just giving you my opinion. You see, I think it’s a shame you’re like that, because there’s such a lot you could achieve if only you had a bit more determination. You mark my words, if you don’t pull yourself together you’ll end up like Henk; he’s good and kind to be sure, but not one for undertaking a great deal, is he? You know I’m not mad about Betsy, but I can quite understand her getting terribly bored at times with your brother doing nothing all day.’
‘Now don’t you say a word against Henk! He’s such a dear!’ cried Frédérique.
‘And besides,’ Marie went on, ‘you’re much more talented than Henk, which makes your laziness and your lack of energy doubly inexcusable.’
‘Just leave him be, Marie,’ said Lili, rising from her seat, ‘don’t get cross with poor old Paul.’ Then, turning to Paul, she whispered: ‘Now make sure you go and see Hovel tomorrow, do you hear? Then everything will be all right.’
He gave her a grin and promised to better his ways if that was what they wanted.
‘It looks as if I am to be placed under the guardianship of my cousins and Miss van Erlevoort,’ he said good-humouredly. ‘Well then, perhaps they will be so kind as to grant their young ward another cup of tea?’
. .
The downpour had come to an end, but the dripping boughs were still swaying in the wind. At half-past five the doorbell sounded yet again.
‘Half-past five already!’ cried Frédérique. ‘I must dash, because I bought some ribbons this afternoon that I still I want to put on my dress. Oh, it’s going to be lovely tonight — me wearing all that floaty tulle! Where did you leave my parcels, Marie?’
‘Did you hear the bell?’ asked Lili. ‘Another visitor, do you suppose?’
Frédérique waited a moment, as she had to put on her raincoat in the vestibule, and Dien came in to enquire whether they were at home to Mr de Woude van Bergh.
‘I rather think not, Dien, but go and ask in the conservatory.’
‘Oh, not him again!’ cried Lili. ‘He’s such a prig!’
‘He’s not so bad,’ retorted Paul. ‘And not in the least priggish, either.’
‘Anyway, I have no wish to see him!’ she said, and made to close the sliding door when Dien was dispatched to show the visitor in.
‘Lili, don’t be absurd, come along now!’ said Marie.
‘No thank you very much, you go yourself,’ she said, and slid both doors together just as De Woude stepped into the salon. He was welcomed by Marie, who led him to the conservatory.
Paul and Frédérique laughed and bade Lili goodbye, then all three passed through the dining room to the hall.
‘Au revoir, please convey my respects to Uncle and Aunt, and tell Uncle I shall certainly go and see Hovel after supper tomorrow,’ said Paul.
‘Please give them my regards too, and tell them I had to rush!’ said Freddie.
‘All right then, goodbye, have fun this evening, in your floaty tulle! Brr, how cold it is here in the hall!’
Paul and Freddie left, and Lili returned through the dining room. Georges de Woude? Oh, he was making a courtesy call after last week’s soirée, that was all! No, she couldn’t abide him. So affected, so stuck up! How could Paul see anything in him? Paul she thought a thousand times more agreeable and more spirited. How Marie had lectured him! Paul was all right, and if he had turned out a bit on the lazy side, what of it? He had money, after all, and could afford to enjoy himself for a time; he would get himself a position eventually, she was sure. She would tell Papa that Paul had promised to call on Hovel tomorrow, and he always kept his word.
She sat down again in the old armchair and leant forwards to poke the fire, then put on some more coal and peat, and another log. She warmed her fingers, which had grown cold, and rubbed her small hands, cool as white satin. Through the closed door she could hear the muffled exchange going on in the conservatory. Mostly she could distinguish Georges’ voice — he was obviously in a very talkative frame of mind. Her curiosity being aroused, she stood up and carefully opened one of the sliding doors a crack so she could peep into the conservatory, past the broad-leafed palms. Papa and Mama were not in view, but she could just see Marie’s face and Georges’ back. How funny it would be if Marie saw her spying on them like this, but her sister appeared to be absorbed in what that fop Georges had to say for himself. Lili could just make out the shiny edge of his collar and the tails of his coat — very smart! There, Marie was looking up, yes she’d noticed her! She waved gaily, dropped a little curtsey, then pulled a face which made Marie frown and purse her lips so as not to burst out laughing.
. .
It was getting dark as Frédérique hurried home to the Voorhout. Willem, the manservant, let her in, and she flew down the spacious hall and up the broad staircase. She almost tripped over her niece and nephew, Madeleine and Nico van Rijssel. Their mother was her elder sister Mathilda, who, since her separation from her husband, had taken her four children to stay with Madame van Erlevoort.
‘Miss Frantzen, do take care, the children will fall!’ panted Frédérique when she came upon the stout nursemaid on the first-floor landing, searching high and low for the mischievous youngsters. ‘Madeleine and Nico are playing on the stairs.’
‘Have you seen Ernestine and Johan, by any chance?’ asked Miss Frantzen, looking very fraught.
‘No, of course not, I only just got back!’ replied Frédérique indignantly, and dashed on. She burst into her room, flung aside her raincoat and, with nervous fingers, set about opening one of small parcels she had carried home in her coat pocket and muff.