haps he had an unhappy love-affair: why not Gerrit as well as another?”
“I may be wrong, of course.”
“When I see Gerrit, in his big chair, with all those children climbing over his legs and chest, he looks to me the very personification of happiness. Oh, Paul, and I too, I too feel happy: I can’t tell you, Paul, how happy I am to be back here in the Hague! And now, now you do all care for me a little again: even Adolphine was very nice lately, before she went away; and I am happy, I am so happy!”
“You have a very gentle, noble, pastoral nature, with a strong atavistic tendency!” said Paul, teasing her. “Look, here are your husband and your boy back with their bicycles, just like two brothers, an elder and a younger brother. They make a good pair. Now, if you’re so happy, don’t be jealous and try and remain as pastoral all the evening as you are at this moment . . . even if your husband should enter the room presently! . . .”
