The Later Life

as the only guest. Though Constance usually gave a deal of thought to her little dinners, sh

ave been doing all these ye

ng his exceptional intelligence, had sent him to college, hoping that in this way he would carve out an honourable career for himself among his fellow-men. Max was fond of study and studied long and hard, for the sake of study. At Leiden, he became acquainted with Van Vreeswijck, Van der Welcke and other young sprigs of the aristocracy, who would gladly have admitted him to their club, putting up with him because he had plenty of money to spend and because he was clever and it amused him to help them in their exa

and what a rich youth could want to seek in America, if he did not

e admitted that his father, the iron-master, had hoped that Max would form industrial connecti

you do?" asked

irony and compassion-with himself, or the world, or both-a smile which someti

ing at table with you and your wife and your son. Perhaps, if I tell you what I did do in America, Mrs. van der Welcke, after the first shock of surprise, will shud

elcke had gro

a that Addie mustn't hear about; and in any case he needn't take you for his model. But I'm burning with

ot eve

what

good of talking about

. "We certainly are. But, if you would rather not

e, impatiently. "By Jingo, I will b

though he were making an apology. "At the risk of your wi

oked at him and d

asked Van

?" asked

ust a porter and

ke, thinking, from Max Brauws' quiet

worked as a stoker in an ir

er?" asked

rds, as an engine-driver. And then-but that was very hard

Welcke, in a blank voice,

ing from the astonis

y face. I don't understand a word of what you're saying, unless I'm to suppose that your father was angry wi

bourer," sai

er, that I refuse to belie

he same allowance that he made me at the u

d..

eally was. You see, you can't understand that; and, as I feared, your wife thinks it horribl

," added Van

as though he had recei

mile, "my hands, although they are not delica

hands, probably developed by manual l

tance, with a little laugh, "why you wo

ldly. "And then we will talk no more about myself. Tell me instead about Addie. Han

Constance, perceiving this, not only wanted to avoid that constraint, but also a deeper feeling of invincible sympathy made her regret almost unconsciously any misunderstanding or unpleasantness that might arise between that strange man and Henri or herself. This deeper feeling was so faint a

speaking especially for my own sake. When I heard you lecturing on Peace the other day-on something which I had really never thought about, though I had heard the word vaguely mentioned by people now and then-your speech really roused ... a sort of interest in me; and I listened with keen sympathy; and afterwards I thought about that word.

was finished; and they w

never accompanied them to the drawing-

and Van der

ven my boy

rauws, with his quiet smile. "We

se he ma

the ideas of ... a labou

lifting her head high and putting her arm

make him vain,

" she continued, boasting a

stay?" as

can

e I shall tell you

in tha

of confidence and, I migh

ook his friend b

ng compliments to my wife. That's all superfluous, you know: here's a cup of coffee; sit down, make yourself at home, ch

m to interpret the riddle of his former existence to these people who were entertaining

r, mevrouw, when I have known you a little longer, I may be able to te

ppointed, but she

st exercis

Leiden, after taking your degree in law, a year before I did-but you were much old

all that we represented, my father, my brothers and I, that I determined to go and lead an entirely different life. I saw

s hand over

ear Hans?" he said, gently interrupting himself. "You

understand you?"

rough tone that al

-and titled capitalists at that-and because I.... B

capital," said Van

ugged his

of them than you

mies here," said Constance,

in his turn has deserted to the c

, quietly, "though I adm

. Brauws," said Constance; but

you were asking me about America: well, when I had lived for a short time with my father and my brothers in our big house near the factory, it became too much for me; and I we

ng dull. And you

talk about myself: you see, I've

rry you any more,

die, disappointed, left the room quietly. In a little while, Brauws took his leave, awkwardly, almost ru

good sort, there's something nice about him. But he's quite mad. Vreeswijck is much better company. We won't ask him again: what do you say, Constance? The fellow's really mad; and, besides

e said, "but I think that, however much

d burst ou

of excuse for Brauws! Why, I was afraid that you would cover me with reproaches and point out to me that, even t

and his tone seemed to invite a scene. But Constance raised her eyes to his very calm

d an exceptional man; and that is enou

sk him every day

n't as

did, of

if you would rather not see any more of him, we won't encoura

turbed him greatly; and he went upstairs in a temp

ead next, with those queer notions," he muttere