ready had something to eat, with Marietje to wait on her: she never sat down to table with the others.
The second bell rang.
"Come," said Constance.
Paul was there and noticed how miserable Van der Welcke looked:
"What's the matter?" he asked.
Van der Welcke was carving:
"I loathe carving," he said. "Addie always used to do it, or Guy."
"I never learnt how," said Paul, secretly fearing the gravy.
"Give it to me, Hans," said Brauws.
They were silent round the table; the wind howled outside.
"The gas is burning badly," said Constance.
"How nice-looking Mary is growing now that she's down here!" said Paul. "There, you needn't go blushing: your old uncle may surely pay you a compliment."
"Well, Uncle Paul, I'm not as young as all that myself: I'm getting on for thirty."
"And you, Klaasje," said Paul, "you're eating like a grown-up person."
"I do eat nicely now, don't I, Auntie?" said Klaasje, proudly.
Constance nodded to her with a smile.
"Only Gerdy . . . she's not doing well," thought Paul. "How pale she looks! . . . Ah, well! Perhaps it'll all come right later for the poor child. . . . He or another. . . . Love, it's a strange thing: I never felt it."
He felt a shiver pass through him and said:
"It's cold to-day, Constance."
"Yes. We shall start fires to-morrow."
"It's blowing bitterly outside. And what a
