‘Oh, Mathilda, do let them stay just a little while!’
‘Get into my bed, then, quick!’ said Frédérique between shrieks of laughter. ‘But don’t you dare touch my tulle!’ she added, recoiling from the outstretched paws of the two little vandals intent on clutching the filmy fabric and pulling the ribbons.
Mathilda could see that, under the circumstances, the best place for the youngsters was in Freddie’s bed; for the umpteenth time she gave up with a sigh, and resumed lacing Freddie’s bodice, making the satin creak as it tightened. Johan and Madeleine snuggled down under the quilted blanket beside Ernestine, and all three, starry-eyed, gazed up at the blue fairy.
‘Aren’t you going to put any more clothes on, Auntie?’ Johan wanted to know. ‘Or are you staying half-naked?’
‘Silly boy!’ scoffed Ernestine, giving him such a hard push that he tumbled over Madeleine, who began to scream as Frédérique’s bed became a heaving, tumultuous mass of woollen blankets, blond curls, pillows and rosy limbs.
Madame van Erlevoort and Frédérique laughed so much they almost cried, much to the annoyance of Mathilda, who was having great difficulty tying the laces properly, and Madame called out to Otto and Etienne, who were already in their overcoats descending the stairs, to come and witness the spectacle.
‘Come into bed with us, Uncle Etienne, over here!’ shouted Johan, but Etienne declined the honour, saying he was dressed to go out, not to go to bed.
‘You look ravishing, Freddie!’ smiled Otto.
‘As if I’m floating on a puff of air, don’t you think? Puff. . Tilly, haven’t you finished with those laces yet?’
‘How can I if you won’t keep still?’
Tilly was ready at last, and everyone else was, too. Madame van Erlevoort started down the stairs to the front door, where the carriage was waiting.
‘Now, children, don’t all get out of bed, I will not have you running about in the cold!’ cried Mathilda with authority. Meanwhile Frédérique, having charged Otto with her fan and Etienne with one of her gloves, was helped into her cloak by Martha.
‘Hurry up, Freddie, Mama’s waiting downstairs,’ said Otto, tapping the fan on the palm of his hand.
‘Are you sure you’ve got everything?’ asked Mathilda.
‘I say, Freddie, where’s your other glove, or will you go out wearing only one?’ said Etienne, raising his voice to make himself heard over the pandemonium of the children in bed.
‘Oh, how nervous you’re all making me! Look, I’ve got the other glove half on already! Martha, my hanky! Thanks; all ready? Good! Bye-bye my little darlings!’
‘Freddie, you’ve forgotten something!’ cried Etienne.
‘Oh dear, what now?’
‘Your umbrella!’
‘Don’t be such a tease! Mama’s waiting for me, and all you can do is tease and make me late! Well, goodbye everyone, bye, Tilly, bye, darlings, yes Otto, I’m coming. . Goodbye, Tilly, thanks for your help. Goodbye, Martha.’
‘Enjoy yourself, Miss.’
‘Have fun, Freddie, bye-bye. .’
Freddie sallied forth, followed by Otto and Etienne. The youngsters promptly leapt out of bed.
‘Come here, children, at once!’ cried Mathilda.
She threw some wraps about their shoulders: a shawl, a comforter and Freddie’s raincoat, which trailed on the floor behind young Ernestine like a train.
‘And where is Miss Frantzen? She should never have allowed you to come here!’ she said testily.
‘She’s in the nursery with Nico, Mummy, and Nico’s asleep,’ said Ernestine. ‘Please, Mummy, don’t be cross!’
And she held out her little arms in the flapping raincoat sleeves, wanting to fling them about her mother.
Mathilda smiled and allowed herself to be hugged.
‘Now you must all go to bed!’ she said, mollified.
‘Look at the state of Miss Freddie’s bed,’ said Martha, shaking her head. ‘I shall have to make it up all over again, thanks to you naughty children!’
‘Nice children!’ countered Madeleine.
Mathilda took the child in her arms; Ernestine and Johan followed her, tripping over their improvised dressing gowns and chortling with glee that their ruse had worked.
‘Shush now, children, or you’ll wake Nico!’
Miss Frantzen, unaware of the youngsters’ escapade, was quietly knitting with Hector at her feet while Nico lay sleeping in his crib, and was greatly distressed to see the excited cavalcade approaching. The little rogues, sneaking away like that, while she thought they were fast asleep in the next room!
The threesome were tucked into bed, shivering with cold and excitement, and Miss Frantzen had to caution them several times to stop talking and go to sleep like good children.
Mathilda gazed into the cot where her little Nico lay snugly under the covers, his eyes tightly shut, his moist lips slightly parted, his flaxen curls straggling over the pillow. How angelic he looked! And the others, too — how delightful they were! A handful of course, and quite out of control, especially with their grandmother and Freddie, and yet they were a blessing! A fourfold blessing!
She bent over and touched her lips to Nico’s small mouth; she felt his light, sweet breath caressing her cheek, and her tears dropped on his forehead, so white and transparent, so soft. . her little angel!
VI
From time to time old Madame van Raat would call on her son at Nassauplein for an evening cup of tea; she would arrive in her coupé at seven, and leave again at half-past nine.
This time Betsy was still upstairs, no doubt with Ben, as Eline assured Madame van Raat, although it was actually Anna, the nursemaid, who put the little boy to bed in the evenings.
She led the old lady into the anteroom, where a small crystal chandelier spread a soft glow over the violet plush upholstery, its twinkling glass prisms reflected in the round pier glass.
‘And Henk?’ asked the old lady.
‘Oh, still dozing, I expect!’ laughed Eline. ‘Wait, I’ll go and call him.’
‘No, no, leave him be,’ said Madame van Raat. ‘Let him sleep, poor dear, and stay with me a while for a chat.’
She sank down on the sofa, smiling at Eline, who settled herself on a pouffe close by.
Eline took the old lady’s dry, veined hand in hers.
‘And how are you, dear lady? Well, I trust? You look remarkably fresh and youthful today — not a line to be seen on your brow, I do declare!’
Madame van Raat was much taken, as always, with the warmth in Eline’s voice and with her beaming smile, to which she now, with or without intent, imparted a suggestion of naiveté.
‘You wicked girl! Making fun of me in my old age! Elly, you ought to be ashamed of yourself!’ She put her arm around Eline’s shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. ‘And how is Betsy these days, not too tiresome?’ she added in a whisper.
‘Ah well, you know, Betsy isn’t so bad, really, just a little — a little quick-tempered in the things she says. All us Veres are quick-tempered, and I am too, although I don’t remember Papa ever getting cross, but then he was a man without equal. Betsy and I get along splendidly; of course we have our little disagreements, but that’s only natural if you spend so much time together. I think it would even happen to you and me if I lived in your house.’
‘Well, I would be delighted for you to come and give it a try!’
‘Oh no, I’d be far too tiresome in the long run. You think I’m nice because you don’t see a great deal of me, but if you did. .!’ she laughed gaily.
‘What a bad girl you are, making me out to have be so short-tempered!’
‘Oh no, I didn’t mean it like that. But truly, Betsy has a kind heart when it comes down to it, and I assure you, she makes Henk a charming wife.’