At Addie's wish, at the little schoolboy's wish, the Van der Welckes responded to Van Naghel's advances and Constance sent a note. The visit was paid and the brothers-in-law shook hands. Van der Welcke himself shrugged his shoulders over the whole business; but Addie was pleased, started going for walks again with Frans and spoke to Karel again at the grammar-school, though he did not much care for him. Two days later, Marianne called in the afternoon, when the rain was coming down in torrents. Constance was at home. The girl stood in the door-way of the drawing-room:
"May I come in, Auntie? . . ."
"Of course, Marianne, do."
"I don't like to: I'm rather wet."
"Nonsense, come in!"
And the girl suddenly ran in and threw herself on her knees beside Constance, almost with a scream:
"I am so glad, I am so glad!" she cried.
"Why?"
"That Uncle wrote to Papa . . . that Papa and Mamma have been here . . . that everything is all right again . . . It was so dreadful; it kept me from sleeping. I kept on thinking about it. It
39
