ou what she looked like
y her open trunk, while Truitje helpe
ox for Truitje, with Nice violets on it. Look, Truitje: it's
ank you
afraid of bringing you something not serious enough for your patriarchal tastes; and s
her ball-dress; a photograph taken with a great deal of artistry and chic, but too you
at her wit
you think of
e of vanity y
it? Then give
it awfully jolly to hav
ng to grow old, my boy. Upon my word, I believe Tru
I think it
d you have d
cle Gerrit, one for Uncle Paul,
ne for
owns the
your hus
!" she
cam
ortrait of
d. "That's awfully go
.... Oh, how glad I am to be back!... Here's the ball-dress. We'll put it away to-morrow. I shall never wear
ghed, includ
wn room, my own cupboards.... Truitje,
hat you used
right? I wasn
ay for so long again, ma'a
sofa, glad to be home. Van der Welcke left the ro
u for seven weeks. Now you belong
years, not like her photograph; and, his mind travelling swiftly to his father, he thought his
herself, my boy, is the strangest of all. If you ask me honestly if I like being 'vain,' I mean, taking part in social frivolities, I shouldn't know what to answer. I certainly used to enjoy it in the old days; and
and at the same time a tear trembled on her lashes. And she did not know if it gave her a peaceful feeling to be growing old ... or if
hen I hid myself.... I was so anxious to come back to my country and my family; and it all meant nothing but a little show and illusion ... and a great deal of disappointment. And so the days were wasted, one after the other, and I ... have ... never ... lived.... Just as I throw away my money, so I have thrown away my days. Perhaps I have squandered all my days ... for nothing. Oh, I oughtn't to feel like this! What does it mean when I do? What am I regretting? What is there left for me? At Nice, I thought for
are you thinking
id nothing, looked
t. "I know it, but it can't be helped. I mus
what are you t
nothing.... Mamma feels so lonely ...
aid: it was almost the same words th
stay with me? You won't g
got Granny and Uncle
e nice," she
he th
hen he's grown up.... I kno
weak and helpless; a
rn voice, forbade her to be so excitab
im laying down the law li
rown up.... Oh, let me be than
t to sleep; and he left
feel the