"Ah, my dear Juffrouw Laps, if you had been a midwife as long as I have you'd take no interest in a prayer-class. Now there is M'neer Littelman in Prince Street. I've been at his house--always in respectable houses--and he always said--it's a house with high steps, and in the hall there's a big clock about the wind and rain--and he always said: 'Vrouw Stotter,' said he, 'you're a good woman,' said he, 'and a faithful midwife. I always tell the people that,' said he, 'and,' said he, 'all of my connection must send for you,' said he, 'but,' said he, 'when people tell you this you must act as if you didn't hear it'--thank you, Juffrouw Pieterse, my cup is turned over. Just as I said: Everyone must know what he's doing."
"But just a little exercise like that, Mrs. Stotter!"
"It's possible, it's possible. But I've had so much experience in such things. I go my own way; and that's the best way, too. For I've been in the home of M'neer Witte, who has an uncle in congress--for I always go to respectable places--and he always said, because he's so funny: 'Child-woman, child-woman, you're nothing but a child-woman.' I was just going to say that I know what I'm doing, for I've seen a lot in my life. There's M'neer--what's his name? There in Prince Street--no, no, Market Square. Oh, what is his name!"
The reader will have noticed that Mrs. Stotter digressed from the theme. But other folk do the same.
"And Juffrouw Pieterse, what do you think of the idea? Just a little exercise."
"Ah, my dear, I have exercise enough with my children. You don't know what it means to bring up nine. I always worship with the children, for the Bible says--Trudie, go to the baby; I hear her again."
There was something noble in Trudie's gait as she walked into that back room. One could see that she felt flattered by the transmission to her of maternal dignity. Little Kee, the baby, was less flattered.
"What were we talking about? Yes, that is my religious service. The children keep me busy. You don't know anything about it; if I bring them up properly--run, Pietje, and straighten out Simon. He's pinching his sister again; he always does it when there's company."
"Whenever we have company the children behave so badly. There it goes again. Myntje, go and see what's the matter and tell them to go to sleep."