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It was Uncle and Aunt Ruyvenaer, with their girls following behind. And Constance saw a look of pity in their eyes.
"I say, Constance...." whispered Aunt Lot.
"Yes, Auntie?"
"Does Mamma know about that hor-r-rid article?"
Constance turned pale:
"I don't think so, Auntie."
"But your sister Dorine must know...."
Aunt Ruyvenaer beckoned to Dorine, who was very fidgety:
"I say, Dorine, does Mamma know about that hor-r-rid article?"
"No, Auntie," said Dorine, forgetting to say good-evening to Constance.
"I kept coming in and looking at the letter-box...."
"To-day?" asked Constance.
"Yes."
"What do you mean, to-day? A week ago, you mean."
"No, Mamma didn't see that article last week, but I was afraid about to-day."
"To-day?"
"Yes, to-day's article."
Constance caught Dorine by the arm:
"Is there something in it, to-day?"
"Yes," Dorine whispered, coldly. "Didn't you know?"
"Don't you know, Constance?" asked Auntie Lot.
"No, I haven't had it...."
"So you haven't read it, Constance?"
"No."
"Well, it's just as well, child," said Auntie, as though relieved.
"Better not read it, eh? Hor-r-rid article. Scandalous, child, about you.... Eh, _soedah_[23] all those people.... And it's so long ago, you and your husband; and he is your husband now!... Eh, what I say is, leave her alone. Forgive and forget, _soedah!_ But I tell you, people always love to _korek_ about _tempo doeloe_.[24] It makes me sick when I think what people are!"
"Dorine, have you that article?"
"Do you think I carry it about with me?" said Dorine, irritably.
"Why are you angry with me, Dorine?"
"I'm not angry; but, when you give occasion...."
"I?... Give occasion?... Fifteen years ago?..."
"No, on Tuesday last. What an idea of yours, to go to Bertha's!"
"I intend to do more than that, Dorine. And I can't help it if I don't share your awe for Bertha's days...."
"At which you may meet all sorts of people...."
"Dorine, one has so many unpleasant meetings in this world," said Constance, haughtily. "You, you don't know the world."
"Thank goodness for that!"
"Then don't condemn me. You don't know why I am acting as I am."
"If you only kept to yourself...."
"I wanted to keep to myself."
"You give people occasion...."
"Yes, now: I give them occasion now...."
"Oh, children," said Auntie, "don't quarrel.... There's _soesah_[25]
enough, with that hor-r-rid article!"
Gerrit arrived:
"I thought I'd just look in, Mamma...."
"How's Adeline?"
"She's well. The doctor called this afternoon. She's very well indeed.
Oh, she doesn't upset herself for a small affair like that!"
The big, fair man laughed nervously, boisterously filling the whole room with his loose-limbed strength. Then he went up to Constance:
"Connie," he whispered, "I'm so furious, so furious!"
"I haven't read it."
"Haven't you? Haven't you? Then don't!"
