Page:Small Souls (1919).djvu/43

Rh “I saw Constance once or twice in Brussels,” Mrs. van Lowe protested.

Constance laughed:

“But, Auntie, Mamma’s like that, she has her own ways! And Adriaan, Addie, would be too much for her. . . though he’s a very quiet boy.”

Mamma said nothing, smiled peacefully. Yes, she was like that, she had her own ways.

“I was saying to Uncle to-day,” Auntie continued, “if it didn’t look too funny, I’d ask Constance myself to stay with us. ‘There’s that Marie,’ I said. ‘She’s got a big house and leaves her child at the Hôtel des Indes!’ It’s beyond me, Marie. . . . Constance, you must come and eat rice with me and bring your husband and your boy. Do you like nassi?”

“Yes, Auntie. We shall be delighted.”

Constance and Auntie stood up; Constance walked towards the conservatory. The young nephews and nieces were sitting at their round game, but had stopped playing. And Constance shrank from going farther and talking to them, for they hurriedly took up their cards again and went on playing.

And she turned away and thought:

“They were talking about me. . . .”

The servants came in with the trays:

“Who’ll have a sandwich? Uncle, shall I mix you a drink?” asked Dorine, moving restlessly about the rooms.