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104 became so yielding because Addie had said this; all her hardness and cruelty melted away in remorse at her last words; and she said:

"Addie . . . go upstairs and . . . and ask Papa. . . ."

Adolphine looked up with wonder in her red eyes. She was struck that Constance was altering so suddenly in tone, from reluctance to assent; and she was also struck that Constance did not apparently wish to decide and that she was leaving the decision to Van der Welcke.

Addie went upstairs at once. The sisters remained silent and alone; the old lady was sitting in the conservatory.

"Oh, Constance!" said Adolphine. "Do you think that Van der Welcke . . .?" She did not complete her question, but went on, "Yes, I suppose your weekly books are very expensive?"

"They are heavy," said Constance. "You understand it's . . ."

"What?"

"It's my husband's money . . . spent on my relations."

"But Gerrit's children have something."

Constance shrugged her shoulders:

"You know exactly how much they have. A couple of thousand guilders apiece."

"Well, that's something."

"We keep it for them . . . and don't touch it."

"Really?" said Adolphine, in surprise. "But then there's Mamma."

"Mamma?"

"Yes, you have her money too," said Adolphine, looking Constance in the eyes.

Constance returned the look:

"My dear Adolphine," she said, gently, "as