Page:Later Life (1919).djvu/79

Rh "Can you hire one? Can you hire one?" cried Van der Welcke, in delighted amazement. "And may I really drive?"

And forgetting all about Peace, he was soon eagerly discussing motor-cars and motor-cycles. ..

When they reached the Kerkhoflaan, Constance asked:

"Won't you all come in?"

Van Vreeswijck and Paul said that they would be glad to come and have a glass of wine; but Brauws said:

"Mevrouw, it's so late . . ."

"Not for us."

"Come along, Max," said Van der Welcke.

But Brauws laughed his queer, soft laugh and said:

"What's the good of my coming in? . . ."

And he went off, with a shy bow. They all laughed.

"Really, Brauws is impossible," said Van Vreeswijck, indignantly.

"And he's forgotten to tell me at what time he's coming for me with his old sewing-machine . . ."

But next day, very early, in the misty winter morning, the "machine" came puffing and snorting and exploding down the Kerkhoflaan and stopped at Van der Welcke's door with a succession of deep-drawn sighs and spasmodic gasps, as if to take breath after its exertions; and this monster as it were of living