The Later Life

ou what she looked like

y her open trunk, while Truitje helpe

ox for Truitje, with Nice violets on it. Look, Truitje: it's

ank you

afraid of bringing you something not serious enough for your patriarchal tastes; and s

her ball-dress; a photograph taken with a great deal of artistry and chic, but too you

at her wit

you think of

e of vanity y

it? Then give

it awfully jolly to hav

ng to grow old, my boy. Upon my word, I believe Tru

I think it

d you have d

cle Gerrit, one for Uncle Paul,

ne for

owns the

your hus

!" she

cam

ortrait of

d. "That's awfully go

.... Oh, how glad I am to be back!... Here's the ball-dress. We'll put it away to-morrow. I shall never wear

ghed, includ

wn room, my own cupboards.... Truitje,

hat you used

right? I wasn

ay for so long again, ma'a

sofa, glad to be home. Van der Welcke left the ro

u for seven weeks. Now you belong

years, not like her photograph; and, his mind travelling swiftly to his father, he thought his

herself, my boy, is the strangest of all. If you ask me honestly if I like being 'vain,' I mean, taking part in social frivolities, I shouldn't know what to answer. I certainly used to enjoy it in the old days; and

and at the same time a tear trembled on her lashes. And she did not know if it gave her a peaceful feeling to be growing old ... or if

hen I hid myself.... I was so anxious to come back to my country and my family; and it all meant nothing but a little show and illusion ... and a great deal of disappointment. And so the days were wasted, one after the other, and I ... have ... never ... lived.... Just as I throw away my money, so I have thrown away my days. Perhaps I have squandered all my days ... for nothing. Oh, I oughtn't to feel like this! What does it mean when I do? What am I regretting? What is there left for me? At Nice, I thought for

are you thinking

id nothing, looked

t. "I know it, but it can't be helped. I mus

what are you t

nothing.... Mamma feels so lonely ...

aid: it was almost the same words th

stay with me? You won't g

got Granny and Uncle

e nice," she

he th

hen he's grown up.... I kno

weak and helpless; a

rn voice, forbade her to be so excitab

im laying down the law li

rown up.... Oh, let me be than

t to sleep; and he left

feel the