Walter Pieterse Part 9

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 zoological argument, which should establish peace between the hostile parties, when the door opened and Master Pennewip stood before the agitated a.s.sembly.

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 ma.n.u.script 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 zoological 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 gla.s.ses and slowly described with his eye a circle, peopled with women holding their breath, heads and necks stretched out and mouths wide open. The att.i.tude 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 cla.s.s 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 cla.s.s of organisms that live in oyster-sh.e.l.ls."

"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-sh.e.l.l. She looked at the teacher with astonishment; but he paid no attention at all to the effect of his questions. a.s.suming 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!