Aunt Adeline. Mamma is very glad to see them all again. Are you glad to be in Holland and to be seeing Grandpapa and Grandmamma soon?”
“Yes, my boy.”
“Then let us arrange when we shall go to Driebergen. Not to-morrow, for then you and Mamma are going to Uncle and Aunt van Saetzema’s. Thursday, I promised to go to Uncle Gerrit’s; but I can see the children any day. So let us go down on Thursday. And then to-morrow you can begin to look for a house.”
“Very well, my boy, that will do.”
“Shall I tell Mamma it’s settled?”
“Yes.” He clasped the child to him. “My Addie, my boy, my darling, my darling!”
“Silly old Father!”
He remained on Van der Welcke’s knee, cheek to cheek. Outside, in the Voorhout, the rain pelted on the bare March trees; and grey mists loomed out of the distance, pale and shapeless, while the damp evening fell. . . .
