Walter answered that he couldn't smoke yet. It cost him an effort to make the admission; but his first attempt to equal Stoffel in that respect had turned out badly.
"So? You don't smoke?" She omitted his "yet."
"Well, it's a good thing. It's a stupid habit in men. And forever the terrible smoke! I know other young gentlemen who do not smoke. For instance, there is Piet Hammel. He's as old as you, but a little smaller. He's going to marry a cousin of mine; and he doesn't smoke either."
Walter felt better now. He was interested.
"Yes, they're going to get married about--well, I don't know exactly when. But they intend to marry. I tell you, you are a real bachelor; and it's awfully stupid of them still to treat you like a child. I've told your mother so a hundred times. There on the street just now, when we were together--I'm a delicate woman; but do you think I was afraid?--with you with me? Not a bit. Not a trace of fear. And why? Because everybody could see that I had a man with me. I ought to have taken hold of your arm--you're almost taller than I am--but I didn't do it because you had a package. And then--the people talk so much! The watchman might have seen it, and he would have spread the news broadcast that I had been seen at night with a gentleman."
"A woman must always think of her reputation. But we're here at home now, and that's very different, entirely different. I know that of course you wouldn't tell anything bad about me. Whoever tells anything bad on a woman isn't a true gentleman. You know that."
Yes, Walter knew it. He understood Juffrouw Laps better than she imagined.
"What I wanted to say was, you must never go through that street. So long as you were a child, it made no difference. But now! Let me fill your glass for you."
Walter owned that the liquor had a pleasant taste.
Satan's handmaid filled the glasses again. They were "so small," really "mere thimbles."
"And you must eat something, dearest. Oh, I have always thought so much of you! It's good for you to have a little dram like that."
"Just take off your coat; there's nobody here but us."
"And I'm going to sit close to you, for you are a dear, good, sweet boy."
The liquor was strong, and Walter drank more of it than was good for him. He lost some of his modesty, and hardly knew what he was saying to the talkative Juffrouw, as she asked questions from time to time. She was not quite satisfied with the way things were going, but hoped for the best.