Yes, the door-bell rang. And it rang again: So it was "for
us." Juffrouw Pieterse drew a long breath; and I must say, she did
a very proper thing. While admitting that it is foolish to say what
one would do if one were somebody else, still, in her place I should
have drawn a long breath, too. Firstly, because I imagine she hadn't
done this for a long time; secondly, because I know how, in adverse
circumstances, every change and interruption gives one ground for
hope; and, finally, because I think Juffrouw Pieterse was human,
just like the rest of us.
"Ah, my dears," she said, "be peaceable. It must be the gentlemen."
The ladies declared it couldn't be the gentlemen, because it was
too early for them; and this very doubt and uncertainty as to who it
might be gave the crisis a favorable turn.
Mere uncertainty, even when in no way connected with what is occupying
us, has a sort of paralyzing effect. Besides, when one is interrupted
in one's anger, afterwards it is difficult to find the place where
one left off.
This was Juffrouw Laps's experience; she tried it, but it wouldn't
work. Her "a sucking animal, a sucking animal!" was smothered by,
"What can it mean? He never comes before ten!"
Juffrouw Pieterse quickly availed herself of this diversion to get
them all seated again.
Trudie was commissioned to "straighten out" the children, who came off
rather badly. The hostess was just about to state a new zoˆlogical
argument, which should establish peace between the hostile parties,
when the door opened and Master Pennewip stood before the agitated
assembly.
He, too, was agitated: the reader knows it.
The surprise caused by the arrival of this unexpected visitor had a
most favorable effect on the peace negotiations. A truce was tacitly
declared, though not without the proviso, at least on Juffrouw Laps's
part, that hostilities should be reopened as soon as curiosity as to
Pennewip's visit had been sufficiently satisfied. Indeed, she was
all the more willing for a truce, as it was evident from the man's
appearance that there was something momentous at hand. His wig cried
out fire and murder in unmistakable tones. And that was just what
the good Juffrouw Laps liked.
"Good-evening, Juffrouw Pieterse; my humblest respects. I see you
have company, but----"
"That 'doesn't make a bit of difference,' Master Pennewip. 'Come
right in and take a seat.'"
These forms of expression were rigidly observed in the "citizen
populace," III, 7. c.
"Won't you drink a cup with us?"
"Juffrouw Pieterse," he said with extreme dignity, "I didn't come
here simply to drink a cup of sage-milk."
"But, Master Pennewip, please be seated!"
It wasn't easy; but the ladies made room and he was soon seated.
He cleared up his throat and looked about him with dignity. Then
he drew a roll of manuscript from his pocket, disarranged his wig
and spoke:
"Juffrouw Pieterse! You are a worthy, respectable woman, and your
husband sold shoes----"
Juffrouw Pieterse looked triumphantly at Juffrouw Laps.
"Yes, Master Pennewip, quite so; he did----"
"Don't interrupt me, Juffrouw Pieterse. Your departed husband sold
shoes. I have taught your children from little tots up to their
confirmation. Haven't I, Juffrouw Pieterse?"
"Yes, Master Pennewip," she replied modestly; for she was afraid of
that excessive dignity in Pennewip's manner and voice.
"And I just want to ask you, Juffrouw Pieterse, whether, during all
this time that your children were in my school, you ever heard any
complaints--reasonable complaints--of the manner in which I, with
my wife, instructed your children in reading, writing, arithmetic,
national history, psalmody, sewing, knitting, drawing and religion? I
put the question to you, Juffrouw Pieterse, and wait for a reply."
An awful silence followed this speech. The Juffrouw below had every
reason to be satisfied.
"But, Master Pennewip----"
"I don't want any 'but', Juffrouw Pieterse. I ask you, whether you
have had any complaints. I mean, of course, well grounded complaints
about my instruction in reading, writing, arithmetic----"
"Well, no, Master Pennewip, I have no complaints; but----"
"So-oo? No complaints? Well, then I will explain to you--where is
your son Walter?"
"Walter? Dear me! Hasn't he come home, Trudie? He went to take a
walk with the Halleman boys. They are such respectable children,
Master Pennewip, and they live----"
"So! With the Hallemans--who go to the French school! Aha, and
that's it? So--from the Hallemans! And he learns such things from the
Hallemans--the Hallemans III, 7, a2, perhaps 'a'--yes, who knows but
that it might be II. It's no wonder--immorality, viciousness--at the
French school! And now, Juffrouw Pieterse, I want to tell you that
your son----"
"What did you say?"
Master Pennewip looked about him as if he were drinking in the
breathless silence that had fallen over his hearers.
Juffrouw Laps hastened to repay with compound interest that triumphant
look of the hostess, while that lady, thoroughly miserable, was making
frequent use of the camphor bottle. She was not so much mortified that
Juffrouw Laps should hear something else unfavorable about Walter,
who had caused them so much trouble, as angry that she should be
the witness of an accusation that would give her a new weapon in the
zoˆlogical fray.
"Didn't I tell you so? Nothing good will ever come to this Walter. A
boy that begins with the Bible will end with something else. Yes,
Master Pennewip, I'm not surprised--I shouldn't be surprised at
anything he did. I've seen it coming for a long time. But what
shouldn't one expect from a family----"
As quick as a flash Juffrouw Pieterse saw here her opportunity to
recover her lost advantage. Stoffel had said it was in the book;
but a teacher must know whatever is in a book. Therefore----
"Master Pennewip," she cried, "Is it true that Juffrouw Laps is a
sucking animal?"
I am convinced that Pennewip brought this question under a special
category for "peculiar overflowings of the heart," seeing that it
followed upon his unfinished accusation against Walter. He looked
over his glasses and slowly described with his eye a circle, peopled
with women holding their breath, heads and necks stretched out and
mouths wide open. The attitude of Juffrouw Laps was threatening above
everything else, and said quite distinctly: Answer or die! Am I a
sucking animal?
"With whom have I the honor to speak?" he asked, probably not
considering that this question made the matter still more mysterious,
giving the impression that Laps's animal quality depended upon her
name, age, place of residence, family relations, etc.
"I am Juffrouw Laps," she said, "and live down stairs in the front
part of the house."
"Ah--so! Yes, indeed you belong to the class of sucking animals."
A ten-fold sigh was heaved; and Juffrouw Pieterse was again
triumphant. In politics and the citizen populace complete equilibrium
is impossible. The parties or powers are in continual motion, first
one in the ascendency, then the other.
Juffrouw Laps, who had not been able to accomplish anything with pride,
now attempted good humor.
"But Master Pennewip," she said sweetly, "how can you say such a
thing? My father was in the grain business and----"
"Juffrouw Laps, answer me one question."
"Yes, Master Pennewip, but----"
"Answer me, Juffrouw Laps, where do you live?"
"Where I live? Why, in my room, down stairs--two windows--front
entrance----"
"You miss the significance of my question entirely, Juffrouw Laps. The
meaning would be similar if I were to ask you if you belonged to that
class of organisms that live in oyster-shells."
"Yes, yes, Juffrouw Laps," cried the triumphant hostess, "that's the
point--the main point!"
And Stoffel added that it was really and truly the main point.
Juffrouw Laps saw that she was hopelessly lost, for she had to admit to
herself that she didn't usually reside in an oyster-shell. She looked
at the teacher with astonishment; but he paid no attention at all to
the effect of his questions. Assuming a sort of legal manner--which
was closely imitated by his wig, he continued:
"Can you live in water? Have you gills?"
"In water? But--Master Pennewip----"
Wig to the left, which meant: No, but!
"Or half in water, half on land?"
"Master Pennewip, how should I----"
Wig to the right: No subterfuges.
"Answer me, Juffrouw Laps, have you cold blood? Do you bring living
young into the world?"
"It is a sin, Master Pennewip!"
The wig now looked like a battering-ram, anticipating the nature of
the next question.
"Can you lay eggs, Juffrouw Laps? I only ask you the question. Can
you lay eggs? Eh?"
She said she couldn't.
"Then you are a sucking animal, Juffrouw Laps!"
The wig was in the middle again resting quietly. It had vanquished
Juffrouw Laps.
I wonder what the reader's idea is of the effect produced on the
company by this terrible sentence, against which there could be no
appeal. There was something pitiless in Pennewip's manner, and in
his contracted eyebrows there was no intimation of mercy.