Page:Max Havelaar; or, the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company (IA dli.granth.77827).pdf/67

 “I don't know. He went out to look for money to buy me a box of colours.”

“Be quiet, my boy,” said the woman. “Do play with your pictures or with the puppet-show.”

“You know, mamma, that that gentleman took away everything yesterday.”

It appeared that “a gentleman had been there and taken away everything” a delightful visit! The woman appeared to be in trouble, for secretly she wiped away her tears, whilst she brought the little girl to her brother.

“There,” said she, “play a little with Nonnie.”—A strange name. And so he did.

“Well, my good woman,” I asked; “do you expect your husband presently?”

“I do not know,”she replied.

Then the little boy who had been playing with his sister, left her and asked me:

“Sir, why do you call mamma ‘my good woman?’ ”

“What then, my boy?” I said, “how must I address her?’

“Well—as others do.——You should say ‘my good woman’ to the woman below, who sells saucers.”

Now I am a coffee-broker—Last and Co., No. 37 Laurier Canal: we are thirteen of us at the office, and, including Stern, who receives no salary, there are fourteen. Well, my wife is not Madam, and ought I to call this creature Madam? That is impossible; every one must remain in