“From coming to the Hague.”
“That’s what I think, mevrouw.”
“Yes, so do I.”
“She’s living on her husband’s people.”
“Well, the Van Lowes all got something from the father, you know.”
“It wasn’t much.”
“No, not much.”
“It’s a very unhappy marriage.”
“Yes; and the boy is shockingly brought up.”
“They let him do as he likes.”
“Just think, mevrouw: the boy took the house for them!”
“You don’t mean it!”
“Yes, really!”
“What a state of affairs: it’s all so immoral!”
“What did she come to the Hague for?”
“She was bored in Brussels. And she wants to thrust herself forward here, at Court.”
“So I heard.”
“Yes, that’s so. Old connections, you see: the Van Naghels and so on. She wants to go to Court.”
“Oh, but the Van Naghels will take good care that she doesn’t.”
“At least, they will if they’re wise.”
“What an example for the girls, that aunt of theirs!”
“You know, De Staffelaer found her in Van der Welcke’s arms.”
The two old ladies whispered:
“No!”
