“I am sorry, Heer Adrian,” she said, “but your mother is not very well this morning.”
“Indeed; I only hope she hasn’t caught the plague from the Jansen woman; but that doesn’t account for everybody running about with their hands full, like ants in a broken nest, especially as it is not the time of year when women turn all the furniture upside down and throw the curtains out of the windows in the pretence that they are cleaning them. However, we are quiet here for a while, so let us talk.”
Elsa became suspicious. “Your mother wants me, Heer Adrian,” she said, turning towards the door.
“Let her rest, Elsa, let her rest; there is no medicine like sleep for the sick.”
Elsa pretended not to hear him, so, as she still headed for the door, by a movement too active to be dignified, he placed himself in front of it, adding, “I have said that I want to speak with you.”
“And I have said that I am busy, Heer Adrian, so please let me pass.”
Adrian remained immovable. “Not until I have spoken to you,” he said.
Now as escape was impossible Elsa drew herself up and asked in a cold voice:
“What is your pleasure? I pray you, be brief.”
Adrian cleared his throat, reflecting that she was keeping the workings of the love potion under wonderful control; indeed to look at her no one could have guessed that she had recently absorbed this magic Eastern medicine. However, something must be done; he had gone too far to draw back.
“Elsa,” he said boldly, though no hare could have been more frightened, “Elsa,” and he clasped his hands and looked at the ceiling, “I love you and the time has come to say so.”
“If I remember right it came some time ago, Heer Adrian,” she replied with sarcasm. “I thought that by now you had forgotten all about it.”
“Forgotten!” he sighed, “forgotten! With you ever before my eyes how can I forget?”
“I am sure I cannot say,” she answered, “but I know that I wish to forget this folly.”
“Folly! She calls it folly!” he mused aloud. “Oh, Heaven, folly is the name she gives to the life-long adoration of my bleeding heart!”
“You have known me exactly five weeks, Heer Adrian——”
“Which, sweet lady, makes me desire to know you for fifty years.”
Elsa sighed, for she found the prospect dreary.