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scrubbing-brush and window-squirt; the floor was
scoured, the steps scrubbed and the panes gleamed
brightly. Passers-by looked in at the shop windows.
And workmen came into the house to build a new
staircase and to lay new boards in the passage, for
Werendonk thought the old ones had served their
time. The wainscoting in the passage had to be
renewed, when it was discovered that the woodwork
under the paint was crumbling. For days there
were painters and plasterers about the place ; the
shop and the entrance steps were painted. The
neighbours said that there was a change in Weren-
donk, and that it must be that he was no longer so
heavily burdened with the debts.
It was known that he no longer visited his brother
in Gierstraat; he had mentioned to Wouters on
one occasion that he had had words with him, about
his nephew, about money, and about other things.
The neighbours realised that it had been about
Kroon also, for he and the other Werendonk were
enemies, and Kroon was often seen, sometimes alone
and sometimes with his wife, going into the shop.
Besides, in the back-parlour a party of dominoes
was played, a thing that Diderik Werendonk, now
that he had become so strict, would certainly not
have approved. There had never been dissension
among the Werendonks ; on the contrary, they had
always stood together and helped each other. Floris
knew that he had been the cause of this difference.