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252 “Yes, Papa, awfully!” said Toetie, as she passed on her partner’s arm.

The Ruyvenaer girls, though no longer young, always enjoyed themselves “awfully,” not caring whether it was at Bertha’s or Adolphine’s. Good-natured, kindly, simply and pleasantly Indian in their ways, they loved dancing, they always enjoyed themselves “awfully.”

“And, Dotje, what do you think of my party?”

“Oh, Adolphine, so jolly your party: I’m enjoying it awfully.”

And Dot also shone with gratitude and perspiration after dancing.

“Are those the Dijkerhofs’ friends?” asked Mamma van Lowe, in a whisper, of Bertha, glancing towards a gentleman and a lady who had been introduced to her, but whose name she had not caught. “What strange friends those Dijkerhofs have! Such obscure people: one never knows who they are or what they are! Very vulgar people, I think. It’s such a pity, Bertha, isn’t it? Dijkerhof himself is not bad; and, if Floortje is fond of him, well, I suppose it will be all right; but I must admit I am sorry that Adolphine is mixed up with this lot. . . . And those people over there, Bertha, the stout man and the tall woman with whom Adeline is talking so familiarly: are those intimate friends? What curious friends she has! . . . It must strike Constance too, now that she’s come back to it all. At our house there was a certain harmony, a set, as there is in your house now, Bertha. But, at