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72 Come often. Let us see a lot of each other. I only came to the Hague because of you all. I wanted you so badly. I have dragged through so many dreary years. I have no one in my life, except my boy. And he is still so young; and I tell him too much as it is. I have been very unhappy, Adolphine, Phine. Be nice to me, be a little fond of your Constance. She did not always behave as she should, she did not always behave as she should. But forgive her, forgive her the past,” she whispered, more softly, so that Addie should not hear. “Forgive her that past which is always there, which has never become the past for good and all. Forgive her. . . and love her a little!”

She burst into nervous sobs and, impulsively, knelt down by her sister and laid her head on her breast and felt how poor and thin Adolphine was in her arms. A damp smell of rain was steaming from her muddy dress.

“Dear Constance!” said Adolphine, really touched. “Certainly, I care for you. And that past was so long ago: we have all of us forgotten about it.”

But Constance sobbed and sobbed.

“Mamma!” said Addie.

She drew him to her also, held her sister and her boy in a close embrace.

“Come, Constance. . . .”

“Mamma, don’t cry. . . . You always have such a headache, Mummy, after crying like that.”

She controlled herself, stood up; and Adolphine