Constance made it a duty to go often to Adolphine’s during Floortje’s wedding-preliminaries. She went out of her way to be cordial; she sent a beautiful basket of flowers on the day of the contract; she gave a handsome present, much more expensive than the one which she had sent Emilie; and she showed great interest in the party and the dinner that were to be given at the Witte Brug. She examined attentively the open presses with the stacks of linen composing Floortje’s trousseau—“Just look at those chemises; and those table-cloths and napkins: there’s quality there, you can’t beat it. Just feel them, only feel them! Whereas those fripperies of Emilie’s . . .!”—and listened attentively to the endless pæans of self-glorification, spent herself in admiration, was determined to flatter Adolphine and to make a good impression on her sister. Because, during those days, she had conscientiously set herself the task of winning over Adolphine, she swallowed the criticism that was never wanting, little spiteful arrows shot off in between the pæans:
“How pale you’re looking! Have you been using too much powder again, or aren’t you well? . . . What a pity that your boy is such an old gentleman, Constance! . . . Tell me, Constance: your father- and mother-in-law were not very nice to you, were they? . . . Constance, are those rings of yours
