8
sitting in coffee-houses and going for walks with
queer fellows of no particular calling ; he looked
as heedless as a child, as though he never thought
of anything serious. And though there was no
need to think he would get into trouble, he realised
that he would have to keep a watchful eye on him
for the time being. He himself was the eldest and
the strongest, he must be the guardian of the family.
Then he lifted his head and listened. The bell
kept tinkling at Thijs's, his next-door neighbour ;
Thijs served his customers till past eleven o'clock.
But he heard another sound too. It seemed quite
near, as though two voices were whispering loudly.
He looked through the glass of the door ; it was
dark in the shop, the flame of the candle was reflected
in the pane. Then he heard smothered laughter.
He stood up, he pulled the blind on one side, but
the snowflakes prevented him from seeing anything
through the window. Now he could hear it more
distinctly, the voice of a woman, with a note of
mockery in it. It was in the yard. He opened the
door leading to the passage, took the candle and
went into the kitchen. The whispering and giggling
sounded more distinct. He unbolted the door and
stepped outside ; in the light of the candle he could
see two wet branches of the apple-tree, and when
he held the light farther forward he could see
the trunk too, but nothing else. Now the voices
seemed to be receding. * Is anyone there ? ' he