"Why? why?" he grumbled, "that is always the way you women put us off! You know I don't like to sit down to meals alone!"
"Then why did you not call Anna? She would have had some news to tell you," replied the wife.
It appears that, after the party, Laurentia had not taken the trouble to enlighten her husband as to what had occurred on the previous evening. She had so much to do as hostess--and then she had not missed a single dance;--the young men of Santjoemeh had been simply charming!
"Anna, Anna," growled van Gulpendam, "why, I have seen nothing of her yet. You women never can have a good stiff run without being knocked up all the next day! But--what is up with Anna? What news may she have to tell me?"
"I will leave that to her--Anna!--call your young lady," said Laurentia turning to Dalima, who just then came into the pandoppo.
"Miss Anna will be here presently," said the baboe.
"But meanwhile," repeated van Gulpendam, "what news has the girl to tell me?"
"Oh," said Laurentia wearily, "I would much rather she should herself tell you. She could much better explain it herself why she allowed van Nerekool to kiss her last night in the garden. But, I should like to know what paper that is there in your hand. You know I don't like to see the rubbish at my table. There is room enough in the office for all that sort of thing; and what's more you have my full leave to keep all those things there!"
Van Gulpendam had taken the rather startling communication of his wife quite coolly; so coolly, indeed, that it exceedingly provoked fair Laurentia. She had, therefore, sought to vent her displeasure upon something, and that something, she had found in the unlucky piece of paper.
"It is a telegram," said van Gulpendam, moodily, "which I have just received, and which has annoyed me not a little."
"Yes, a message from the Hague. Look! yesterday evening at nine o'clock, this thing was sent off, and this morning by daylight, we have it here."
"Well," said Laurentia, in no mood to humour her husband, "do you call that so very quick? Don't you remember Amy's letter, when we had sent her our congratulations on her engagement? Our telegram left the office at Santjoemeh at eleven o'clock, and, she wrote to us, that the very same morning at nine o'clock, it was delivered to her. That's quick if you like--it seems to me, rather more than quick!"