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Rh Adolphine and her little tribe; Otto and Frances were there; Van der Welcke, Dorine and Paul, Addie. . . ."

"There are a good many, after all," she said to Constance. "There are a great many. . . . But I miss . . . I miss . . ."

"Whom, Mamma?"

"I miss my big lad . . . I miss Gerrit. Where is Gerrit?"

"He hasn't been very well lately, Mamma. I don't think he'll come."

"He's ill again. . . ."

"Not ill, but . . ."

"Yes, he is, he's ill. . . . He's very seriously ill. . . . Constance . . ."

"What is it, Mamma?"

"You're the only one to whom I dare say it. . . . Constance, Gerrit is very . . . very ill. . . . Hush . . . he's . . . he's dead! . . ."

"No, Mamma, he's not dead."

"He is dead."

"No, Mamma."

"Yes, child. . . . Look, don't you see, in the other room? . . ."

"What, Mamma?"

"That he's dead."

"No."

"What do you see in the other room then?"

"Nothing, Mamma. I see the two card-tables