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Rh “Papa went to look at a couple of houses in the Nassau-Dillenburgstraat. . . . Did you enjoy yourself at Uncle Gerrit’s?”

“Oh, yes, they are nice little things. What are you doing this afternoon, Mamma?”

“I shall stay on a little with Granny and then we are both going to Uncle and Aunt Ruyvenaer’s. Will you come too, Addie?”

“Well, I really want to talk to Papa.”

She was jealous at once:

“You can never be a moment without your father. What does it mean? I haven’t seen you the whole morning; and the first thing you do is to ask for Papa! I don’t know where Papa is. Papa has an appointment, I believe, at the Witte Club, where he was to meet some old friends; but you can’t go to the Witte!”

“Isn’t Papa coming back to dinner at the hotel?”

“I believe Papa intended to stay and dine at the Witte. But I really don’t know. I’m not in the habit of controlling Papa’s movements.”

He looked at her thoughtfully:

“I must absolutely see Papa before seven o’clock, Mamma.”

“But why before seven o’clock? Is there anything you want? Won’t I do? Don’t I count at all?”

“Yes,” he said, “when you’re not so cross. The owner of the house in the Kerkhoflaan, near the Woods, is coming to call before seven.”

“How do you know?”