“Of old Van Lowe’s.”
“I say, Auntie, this is scurrilous!”
“Adelientje!”
“Auntie, I won’t listen to another word!”
Cousins of the Van Saetzemas’, talking with the IJkstras, relations of Cateau’s:
“Poor dear Adolphine!”
“She’s furious!”
“What at?”
“Oh, all sorts of things! First, because the Van Naghels gave a party at which the whole family were ignored.”
“Oh, well, that certainly was rather . . .”
“Then, because Adolphine has no room in her house to give a party at which she would ignore the family in her turn.”
“And because of the seat which she was given at dinner this evening.”
“And because of Emilietje’s two witnesses: her Uncle Van Naghel, the Queen’s Commissary in Overijssel, and Karel van Lowe, whereas she says that Van Saetzema is older than Karel and therefore . . .”
“And also because of Emilietje’s frock, because that flimsy white thing came from Brussels and cost three hundred francs.”
“What a heap Van Naghel must be spending on the wedding!”
“No, it’s Bertha: it’s the Van Lowes who always throw money about.”
