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254 that the guests were sometimes entirely unknown to one another: wasn’t it the same at Bertha’s party? Yes, Bertha had given two evening-parties, in order to separate the elements; but hadn’t the family found fault with this? Was there nothing but fault-finding and criticizing in the family; and did none think right what another did? Gerrit and Paul were now sitting beside her; and she heard them talking, condemning, criticizing, ridiculing.

“Poor, dear Mother: she’s quite bewildered!”

“I say, Paul, are you allowing yourself to be introduced to Dijkerhof’s uncles and aunts?”

“I’m not going to be introduced to another soul,” said Paul, wearily blinking his eyes. “I’m here to make studies. The only way to amuse yourself in a Noah’s ark like this party of Adolphine’s is to make studies of the animal side of mankind. Look at Mrs. Bruys eating her cake with an almost animal satisfaction. Look at that uncle of Dijkerhof’s dancing with Van Saetzema’s cousin: it’s almost disgusting.”

“Paul,” said Constance, “I’ve known you wittier than you are to-night.”

“My dear sister, I feel myself growing dull here. The figures and colours swarm before my eyes so hideously as really to cause me physical pain. My God, the charm of our modern life, the charm at an evening-party of Adolphine’s: where is it, where is it?”

“It’s gone, it’s gone!” Gerrit noisily declaimed. “Adolphine’s charm is gone!”