"Hot, right?" "When the bridge is here, things will be a lot easier." "Bridge?" "What bridge?" "They're planning a bridge across the Scheldt." "A lot of water will flow past this spot before that's a fact." "But it's what I heard." "And if it's true, I'll chuck you right into the river." "Your bridge builders will have to deal with me first." "With the deacon of Waterhoek." "With deacon Broeke." "There they are." "I can see them." "Really?" " Here already?" "Yes, I can see them." "Come and see." "They're early this year." "Come, mother." "Father has arrived." "They're here." "Give it to me." "That's father's." "Mother, mother." "Sieper is back." "They're here." "I can see them all." "Sieper is right in front." "Good Lord, it's true." "They're really here." "Is our Jules with them?" "Of course he is." "Pissed, too." " There'll be hell to pay." "Jenny, hurry." "Are you all right?" "So there you are." " Yes, father." "Welcome home." " Thank God we've arrived." "It took us nine hours." "The train stopped in Lille, too." "You must be hungry." " Sieper, hello." "I bet he's more thirsty." " You can say that again." "The first round is on me." "Do you hear?" "It's on me, Spikkerelle." "How can you afford that?" " He must have emptied the offertory." "Don't give him any ideas." " I wouldn't put it past him." "Right you are." "There is Spikkerelle." " I'll have one, too." "Hey kid, hurry up." " Cheers." "Make it a double for me." "Can we settle up?" " Of course." "You wouldn't cheat, would you?" "Bloody hell, that's mine." "I've been working my guts out and they're spending it all." "As if we're not working!" "Jefke, you've grown a lot." "Can you read yet?" "Sister stands at the school gates." "The meadows are green." " Well done." "You'll be boss one day." "Where will you pay my brother?" " At our place." "What was it like?" " Same as ever." "Slaving away, being pushed about." "But we got the job done." "Glad to be home?" " You bet." "No trouble at all?" "No." "Only with Franske." "He was a lazy bugger at first." "But I got him into shape soon." "Sieper, did you hear about the bridge?" "Are they still on about it?" " They've only just started." "Let them fuss what they like." "It's just a lot of hot air." "But it's come up in the Council." " They're trying to make a packet... at the cost of Waterhoek." "But they'll have to think twice." "But Sieper, the surveyors have been around." "Where?" " On the Scheldt." "Did they do their measuring?" " Not for long." "We chased them." "I threw stones and lumps of peat until they cleared off." "It's true." "Snoek got rid of them all." "And we stood around and watched." "Good old Snoek." "You can get into trouble." " We've got our rights." "They've come here to make trouble." "We've always done without a bridge." "They should leave us alone." "Well spoken." "They want to drive us off our land, the bastards." "Waterhoek is ours." "If the lords in Brussels or at the local Council think... they can ruin Waterhoek with a bridge, they've got it wrong." "They've already figured out the costs." " And do we get to see any money?" "Nothing." " Not a single franc." "There's not going to be a bridge as long as I live." "We'll show them who Waterhoek belongs to." "Pour the constable another one." "And me too." "Another one for everybody." " We'll drown them all." "It's all bullshit and politics." "But we'll show them." "Come in now." "Goodbye." "Bye, then." " Quiet, you'll wake up the kids." "Oh well, oh well." "Hello, Treute, my boy." "How are you?" "Leave him be." "Coffee?" "Yes, OK then." "That's good." "Yes, we got a rotten deal." "You've got no idea." "The French were above doing the dirty jobs." "They left them for us." "For the Flemish." "And if you didn't like it, you could go home." "But what can you do?" "What can you do about it?" "Grin and bear it." "Forget it." "You're home now." "Well, well, well." "Look who's here." "Hello, uncle." "And don't I get a kiss?" "Yes, uncle." "So you're back again." "Don't hide." "Let's look at you." "Don't be shy with your uncle." "Stop it, Sieper." "That's enough." " And you, slut, to bed." "How long were you away?" " A year and two months." "And all that time in Paris." "Paris, toujours I'amour." "But uncle..." "Didn't you hear me?" "To bed." " Do I have to chase you?" "She takes after her mother more now." " Not a word about her mother." "She's gone and she'll stay gone." "We look after what she left behind." "And that's the end of it." " Don't get worked up." "Worked up?" "About that no-good?" "She brings shame on our house." "Staying out all night, with her men-friends." "What are we going to do about it?" "What can we do about it?" "It's nature's course, so that's it." "Why did she come back?" "She didn't bring the same surprise her mother brought us?" "She knows the tricks to stay out of that trouble." "God knows what she learnt there in France." "Pour me another one." " No." "It's much too late." "We're off to bed." " Yes, that's best." "What now?" " I haven't eaten." "I'm hungry." "If you're angry with me, why do you hit him?" "Nuisance, aren't they?" "Charlatans." "Come and say hello." "Don't you want to measure on this side?" "The cops are shitting themselves with fear." "Straighter." "1.43." "We'll give your ears a good measure." " Come over here if you dare." "If they don't stop, I'll shoot." " Take it easy, Arthur." "I'd like to put them in their place." "Hey, Cies." "If you don't calm your pals down, there'll be trouble." "Hey, Cies, calm us down." " You're asking for it." "I mean it, you know." "Maybe you won't like to hear this... but I think that a bridge here wouldn't be such a bad idea." "How do you mean?" "I can see that you're against it, but look at it from two sides." "There are no two sides to it." "They're not only going to build a bridge, but also a brick road." "Our houses will be pulled down and a lot of strangers will take over." "Is that what you want?" "So?" "What's the other side to this business?" "Tell me, Sieper." "What is it?" "That we'll get work right here on the doorstep." "We won't have to go to France to work ourselves to death over there." "Work on the bridge?" " You can't mean it." "Well, think about it." "Why think about it?" "Can't you see for yourself?" "Look, the police have come to invade Waterhoek." "They've got their guns out." "And you want to think about it?" "We're no match for them." "There is big money on their side." "They say the word, and their word is law." "Has it ever been different?" " Listen to that." "Hiding behind your woman's skirts?" " If we don't do it, strangers will." "Fine folk like them will come here with their city manners." "As long as I'm deacon nobody will touch the river." "The first man to help build the bridge I'll bash his head in." "Hello men, how are things in Waterhoek?" "Broeke, Mr Notary is asking how things are." "Bad, Mr Notary." "As you know very well." "You mean the bridge?" "That will get straightened out." "You're always so contrary." "You should take it easy." "Well, goodbye men." "You can't say we didn't warn you." " Broeke, don't be silly." "Hey, uncle Lander." "Mother, uncle Lander is here." "Hello, Lander." "Hello, Manse." " Hello, brother." "Lord, you've grown thin." "Don't they feed you in the army?" "Yes, but the drills wear the fat off your bones." "I'm glad you're home again." " So am I, father." "Did you hear about the bridge?" " Let him settle down first, father." "You'll never believe it." " Let him eat." "Don't mention Sieper." "Sieper?" "What about him?" " The things he's up to..." "He has the gall to say in public that the bridge would be good for us." "Did he say that?" " Yes." "He's a fool, your Sieper." "How..." "Is she back?" "She?" "Yes, like an ill weed." " Mira, uncle Lander is here." "Uncle Lander." "Look, it's Mira." "Nobody told me." "Or wrote to me." "And now you see." "Twice, French style." "Lander, I have something to discuss." " In a minute, father." "And you, tend to the sheep." " In a minute, grandfather." "And don't giggle like that." "This isn't Paris." "Why are you so hard on her?" "She has the devil under her skin." "Three suitors in under two months." "How she got to be so hot-blooded..." " From you." "I'm off to play cards." " Don't be late." "How long to go?" " A little while, not long." "Come with me." "Well, tell me all." "You tell me." " Me?" "I've got nothing to tell." "What did you have to do in the army?" "Keep the gun clean." "And drills in the sand and in the mud." "And in the evening?" "To a café." "With a bit of luck." "You've grown beautiful." "Last time I saw you, you were a girl." "Thin as a rake." "But even then I thought..." "What did you think?" "She's going to be beautiful." " And what else?" "That something might happen, when I got back from the army." "You must have broken lots of hearts out there." "Me?" "I can see it in your eyes." " What about you?" "What about me?" "What were you up to in France?" " I'd rather not talk about it." "You are right." "I won't be a minute." "Wait here." "Isn't it a beauty?" "It won't live long." "Why not?" " It's a ram, isn't it?" "And yes, they're the first to go." "I'm going to eat you up." "Keep at it, Lander." "Swim, go on swim." "There's only one Lander." "And that's you." "And there's only you." "Have you no shame, you two?" "Where everybody can see you." "What's the matter?" "Slut." "With your own uncle, you wretched thing." "Just because your kissing days are over?" "You shameless lot, get out." "If we can't do it here, we'll go somewhere else." "As long as it's not under my roof." "This is going to be the brick road." "Six metres wide." "Raise it with five metres of sand for the base." "Up to there is enough." "He's making a fool of us." " He doesn't even see us." "Hey, fancy-pants." "Bed-wetters." " Wankers." "Ratface." " Idiots." "That'll teach you." "Stop it." "We've only come to do your job." "Or do we have to bring in the cops?" " Yes, bring in the cops." "Are you looking for trouble?" " Men, it's enough for today." "I've built six bridges, but I've given plenty more men a black eye." "Boaster." "We've got the law on our side." "Just remember you can't fight the law." "Come on, let's go." "Men." " Hurry up." "I would have given that gentleman a good working over." "You'd rather give Mira a working over." " Can't blame him." "Look at them." "City slickers." "What do you have, Mr Maurice?" "A gin?" "Why not." "Hello, gentlemen." " Bring us a drink." "Two gins for the gentlemen." "The gentlemen aren't from these parts?" " No." "Are you here for the bridge?" " Yes." "You too, sir?" " Yes, I'm the engineer." "Well, well." "The big wheel himself?" "And who are you?" " Me?" "I am Lander." "My father is Broeke, deacon of Waterhoek." "And what's your name, Mr Engineer?" "Maurice Rondeau." "Aren't you going to buy us a drink, Mr Maurice?" "Yes, because it's your first day in our café." "Yes, of course, why not?" "A round for everybody from Mr Maurice." "Well then, cheers." "There you are." "Not what you're used to perhaps?" " It's home-brew." "It burns your soul." "Here, you pay." "Goodbye, everybody." "Wait, Mr Maurice." "I'll come with you." " No, I'm all right." "He's more your type, isn't he?" " He looked very serious." "A serious, smoked herring." " Why are you so rough on strangers?" "You're roughing us up by arriving." " Listen..." "That bridge is for your own good." "The whole area will be modernized." "Get out of here." " If that's what you want." "Mr Maurice, you're drenched." "You'll catch a cold." "Go sit by the fire, quickly." "Good evening." "Will you join us for a game of cards?" " No, thanks." "Damn." " What's the matter?" "Wait." " Quiet." "What's up?" "Do you want to go back home?" "No." " Keep quiet then." "There they are." " We can stop searching." "You're up early." " So are you." "Hey, big shot." "What's the matter, man?" " I say good morning, sir." "And good morning to you." "Bastards." "What do you want?" "Get off our boat." " Come here." "Bastards." " We'll teach you a lesson, big shot." "Here." "Bastard." "Come here." "Tette, where are you?" "Tette..." "Quiet." "We'll have to find them first." "I kicked him in the guts." "He must have drowned." "The fat one, too." "He sank like a brick." "Come, Lander." "It's over." "Let's go." " No, we have to be sure." "Can't see a thing in this fog, damn it all." "Can you see anything?" " No." "Tette." "Do you see them?" "No, nothing here." "Cloet, listen." "No, here it is." "Do you hear anything?" "There he is, the bastard." "Tette, we've got one of them." "No." "No, don't." "Don't do it, please." "I didn't do anything to you!" "And now?" "Now what?" " Now the other one." "What else?" "Over here." "Come." "I can hear something." "Now it's gone." "You out fishing for eel?" " What about it?" "What are you doing?" "I wanted to get to the other side." "Won't see much of the sun today." " No." "Well, there you are." "Don't I have to pay?" "When will you come back?" " Don't know yet." "Perhaps tomorrow." "They can't do anything to me anyway." "You could stay here, too." " No." "It's safer to stay away for a while." "You never know." "Come and see, the police are coming." "Has something happened?" " Everybody out of the house." "Outside, you." "Outside." "Where is your son Lander?" " He didn't do anything." "Lander isn't around." " Where is he?" "That's your problem." " Find out for yourself." "What do you come into our houses for?" "And why?" "You know very well." " I don't know a thing." "Mama, he's hitting me." " Leave these people alone." "If you want Lander, you'll have to cordon off the forest." "Or look in France." " Quiet, all of you." "Listen:" "I'm listening but I don't hear nothing." "Listen to the Magistrate." " What can he have to say?" "The first one to open his trap will be coming with us." "My son is not a killer." " Aha, you are the mother." "Your bloody son tried to kill me." "Take it easy, sir." " You cow, you." "What have you got to say?" " Nothing." "Leave that woman alone." "I am the deacon of Waterhoek." "Address yourself to me." "Shut up, or we'll shut you up." "I'd like to see that." "Why don't you try?" "The other one's gone as well." "Hip hip, hurray." "Damn it all, this has gone far enough." "People of Waterhoek... you are going to respect the court here in Belgium, is that clear?" "So I'm asking you:" "Where are they?" "You, red one, when did you last see those murderers?" "I don't know any murderers." " Right, whatever you want." "But can't you see that we're dealing with a beastly case of double murder?" "And that it's our duty..." " So do your duty and find them." "What was that?" "Did you say something, shorty?" " Wasn't I speaking clearly enough?" "You are well enough paid for the job." "Well, earn your wages and get going." "Just come with us, shorty." "This is Waterhoek, you know." " Shall we give him one on the chin?" "That depends on the Magistrate." "People, you heard it." "We'll make you respect the law." "Waterhoek people are not above the law." "We're going to settle this business." "Understand?" "You stay here." "Vandale and Cosijns..." "Cosijns, you stay over there." "Muilier and Sassens post at the inn." "Cyriel, is that you?" "Cyriel?" "I thought it had to be Cyriel." "How are things?" "It's Wednesday today." " No, Cyriel." "Tuesday." "Haven't you got any food on you?" " No, it's Lent." "You haven't said your prayers." " No." "Start on it then." "What prayer?" " A Hail Mary." "That's better." "Do you want my gun?" "No." "But thanks for the offer." "Did you see the others?" " Yes, Tette." "At the crossing." "He was sitting under an oak." "I could have caught him like a rabbit." "The cops must be thinking we've gone to France." "You did a bad thing, Lander." " I know." "I've been stupid." "But it taught them a lesson, those fancy men." "That vermin." "They come here, messing us about..." "There they are." " Run for it." "That way." "Thanks, Cyriel." "Thanks a lot." " I do it for Mira." "Anyone been here?" " Have you seen Lander Broeke?" "We'll take a look inside anyway." " No one's coming in." "Looking for a fight, Cyriel?" " If I have to." "That means you're up to something." " It's Wednesday today." "Cyriel, got a glass of beer for me?" " Sure, come in." "Look, there he goes." "Have you gone crazy?" "We'll be back for you, Cyriel." "Damn." "What do you take us for?" "We'll teach you, you murderer." "He's had enough." "Come on, tie him up." "Look, his eyes are bleeding." "You've got something to account for." "Ah, you've got him." "He gave us a hard time, the bastard." "They beat him up badly, the pigs." "Give me a drink, too." "Go to hell." "Look." "His sweetheart is here, too." "Come a bit closer, girl." "You won't be seeing him again soon." "It will be some time." " I think so, too." "Better give him a kiss fast." "I've had it, Mira." "Let's put him in the lock-up here, just for one night." "One pint, no foam." "Are you all here?" " Looks like it, Mr Notary." "Bon." "We'll start straight away, because time is money." "The land on both sides of the new road will be divided into building plots." "They are going to be State property." "What does that mean?" "Your property will be appraised and you'll be paid what it's worth." "For your old hovel, you'll get a new house worth three times as much." "What if they value at 3 times less?" " What about the work I've put into it?" "You've got common sense." "I'll explain." " Please." "But we'll be kicked off our land." "Everybody in Waterhoek will profit from the changes." "You're chopping up the village." "Look here." "You can read a map, I hope?" "This is the Scheldt." "With the bridge." "This is the land I was talking about." "And all them strangers coming in?" " Who is going to profit in the end?" "What nonsense." "Jules, give us all a pint or a glass." "If you want to do business and sell up... before it's compulsory, and those in honest business... trying to sell or buy, know where to find me." "Cheers." "I'm leaving the drawings here so you can circulate them." "It's an honest proposition, clear and simple for everybody." "Can we sleep on it for one night?" " Of course." "Sleep?" "This is what I'll do with the plans of those suckers." "That was an official document." "And now you can't even use it to wipe your arse with." "I'm helping you to live like rich folk and not in poverty." "Who's living in poverty here?" " All of you." "And you're going to make us rich?" " No, but better off." "It'll make you better off for a start." " Listen to me." "Well, what's next?" "If we have to force this upon you, it'll cost you a pretty penny." "And you're going to make us pay." " You'll live like people, not like..." "Like what, Mr Notary?" "Like pigs." " That's what I wanted to hear." "We'll treat you like pigs." "Come on and grab him." "Go on." "We'll make a man out of him." "Pants off." "Murderers." "What's happening?" " Get him." "I'll give you fifty franc for my trousers." "Hey, come here." "Pigs, that's what you are." "And don't come back." "Or we'll chuck you in the Scheldt." "Let me see." "What an ugly thing." "If it flies into your hair you go crazy." "Feet like mice." " Let's go and show it." "Grandfather." "We've got a bat." "For the cow barn." "It's still alive." "Get me three hobnails, silly." "Is it going to bring us luck?" "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost." "Now lightning will never strike us?" " No." "Max." "Go take a look, Max." "Over by the willow tree." "Hey, you there." "What are you doing here?" "Taking a walk." "Call your dog back." "Down, Max." "Come here." "He'll go for your throat if I tell him to." "So you weren't looking for Mira?" " Who?" "That slut's child called Mira." "She's not in." "She's never in." "Father, come and eat." " Yes, I'm coming." "Don't let me see you here again." "Don't chase Mira in my own house." "Got that?" "Like all the others." "Out so late, Mr Engineer?" " Yes, I was just passing." "Just?" " Yes, just." "My girlfriend is asking you in for a drink." "No, I don't have time." " That's a pity." "She said maybe you came here looking for me." "Me?" "Of course not." " I didn't think so." "I bet you only go to a café if it's raining." "Yes, that's right." " Well, goodbye then." "Goodbye, Miss." "Don't you know my name?" "Yes:" "Mira." "Yes, Mira." "Short for Mirabelle." "Salut." "give it a bang and hit it again give it a bang and hit it again" "Sieper keeps them at it." "The miserable dog." "Who would have thought so?" "The whole bunch of them, cowards." "What do you want?" "They earn well." "They're happy." "Some of them even talk of saving." " Saving?" "What for?" "Don't they have somewhere to live?" "Food, clothes and booze?" "Are they going to imitate those city slickers?" "Bragging about who's got the most?" "What do you want?" "That's progress." "To think that I took that louse called Sieper into my family." "Manse said she went to see Lander, and he cried like a child." "Don't meddle with our family." "What else can we talk about?" "The nice weather?" "Look at the water level in the river." "Another couple of days of rain and they can forget the pile-driving." "They should stop anyway." "Why?" "Help, the dam has burst." "Help." "The dike is gone." "Help, hurry." "Here, on this side." "Help." "I expected it." "The water was so high." " Look, a man's body." "Did he fall?" "What happened?" "Too late." "It's beyond repair." "All our work has been for nothing." "They're going to say it's my fault." " He's still alive." "Who is it?" "Do you know him?" " He's from Waterhoek." "Did he do it on purpose?" "You have to be possessed by the Devil to do a thing like that." "Those people from Waterhoek, they're all the same." "He's still breathing." " Yes, he's going to be OK." "He looks a real gentleman." "Can you manage on your own?" "Good luck, then." "I should kick you to death, you dirty bastard." "Scum like you should be torn to pieces." "Here's your father." "That's the end of it... for the rest of the winter, I think." "No thanks, Marie." "You prefer beer or gin, I expect?" " No, Mama." "Drink your tea while it's warm." "It'll make you sleep well." "Why do you keep looking at me?" " Aren't I allowed?" "You're so nervous." "What's the matter?" "Nothing." "Tell me." " It's nothing." "Is it a woman?" "A girl?" "Of course not." "Why not?" "You've become a man, out there with the peasants." "Goodnight, Mama." "And now..." "He'll peck your nose." "Slut." " Yes, grandfather." "Slut, bring me some soup." " Yes, grandfather." "You're sweating again." "Don't you have to go to your lovers?" "It's late." "They must be at the door." "I don't have a lover." " That's something new." "I have you." "Slut..." " You always say the same thing." "I wouldn't mind a stroll with her." " Coming our way?" "You don't have to ask her twice for it." "We put the beam on this side." "Look Treute, the men in charge of the bridge." "Say hello to them." "Hello, young man." "Say hello to him, too." "That's Mr Maurice." "Hello, Treute." "I knew you would come." " Tonight?" "Tonight." "Don't be afraid." "I didn't bring the dog." "It's swarming with mosquitoes here." "They're always after me." "That's because I've got sweet blood." "What about you?" "You've got to undress me." "Isn't it better like this?" "I've got to go." "Where?" " To the bridge." "So soon?" " Yes." "They'll see me." "The workmen will see us together." "So what?" "Hello, Mr Maurice." "You're up early, if I may say so." "You may say so." "Treute, my boy, she's got him on the hook." "The big boss himself." "Yes, our Mira." "Come along." "Good evening, Mr Maurice, Miss..." "can I help you?" "We're going to my room, Mrs Maes." " I don't know the lady." "Are you being suspicious?" " Of course not." "The lady is my fiancée." " Oh, that's different." "I didn't know." "It's all right, madam." "Aren't you hungry, Mr Maurice?" " I'll eat later, in the hotel." "But you must keep in shape." "A young fellow like you should eat two whisked eggs every morning." "Look at the old guy over there." "Never budges." "Like a stork." "Mind your words." "Isn't that right, Mr Maurice?" "In a way that old guy is a relative of yours now." "You're a pretty smart lot." "I brought you something." "A little present." "Are you sad?" " No." "Go sit up straight." "Is it your mother's?" "Did you nick it?" " No, I bought it in Ghent." "How much did you pay for it?" " Too much, probably." "How much?" " Three thousand franc." "That's too much." "Don't you like it?" "What am I to do?" "Whatever you like." "Do you know what's in that box?" "Another present." "You have to guess." "Go ahead, guess." "A coat." " Wrong." "I hardly dared go into the shop." "It was full of women." "But in the end I took the risk and went in." "How beautiful." "Put it on." " Now?" "Why not?" "All right." "Turn around." "No, with your face to the door." "You looked, you cheat." "Close your eyes." "I'll teach you." "Here." "On your knees." "As a punishment, for looking." "Voila." "And now you must count to twenty-five." "If we moored the derrick over here, we'd have no trouble with the span." "Just a minute." " Is that right?" "In six weeks it'll be finished." " High time, too, Mr Maurice." "What will you do then?" "Go to Ypres, work on the new road." "That's not so far away." "And you, Mr Maurice?" "Is it true you're off to the Congo in the autumn?" "Autumn is a long way off." "All right then, salut." "By the way..." "Have you seen Mira lately?" " Sometimes she comes home." "Who is she with now?" "A guy from Roeselare, called Becu." "It's none of my business." "Salut." "What do you want me to say?" " The truth." "Is it true about you and that slut?" "That you see her night and day... and that you're neglecting your work?" " No." "More tea, Professor?" " No, thank you." "So none of it is true?" "You're lying, Maurice." "I can see it." " She is not a slut." "I'm going to marry her." " So she's got you that far." "You don't know what you're saying." " A tramp, a foundling." "Calm down, Anna." "Look, it's just a whim." "That happens." "You don't know the ways of the world." "You are ruining your whole future." "And for whom?" "For what?" "We won't waste another word on it." "Go and do as you see fit." "Go dig your own grave." "You won't get a franc from me, not half a franc." "Don't get carried away." " Should I be financing that whore?" "That's not the point." " That's what she's after." "What do you know about her?" " Enough." "She's not having your father's money." " I have a right to my inheritance." "Not half a franc." "Go get yourself a lawyer and we'll see." "But I'll drag it out until you're old and grey." "Does Richard Becu live here?" " He went to the fair in Avelgem." "Can I pass on a message?" "No, merci." "Which of you is Richard Becu?" " That's me." "Did you need me?" "What for?" " Can't you think what for?" "Just say it." "I wanted to say... you're to help cementing tomorrow." " All right." "Was that all?" "If there's anything else you wanted to se me about..." "No, that was all." "Did you miss me?" "Yes, terribly." " Even after the way I treated you?" "Yes, even then." "I'm ill with longing." "Stay where you are." "My poor fool." "My poor fool of a lover." "I can't help it." "May the bride have the honour?" " Of course." "Here you are." "Are you happy?" " And you?" "I was first to ask." "If he doesn't treat you right, just call me." "Do you hear?" " Don't worry, Mrs Rondeau." "That's true." "I am Mrs Rondeau." "What's the matter?" "Can't you keep up with it?" "He won't be worth much on the wedding night." "None of your lip!" "Come on, let's go." "You want a wedding night without teeth?" "Take it easy." "What's happening?" "Mrs Maes, we're home." " You're a fine gentleman, Mr Maurice." "We'll have one last drink." "And then they'll be off to bed and we'll be off home." "Not on your life." " Why not?" "I don't mind you, but I don't want that type in here." "What type?" "My friends?" " This is a respectable house, Mira." "You're to call me Mrs Rondeau now." "That's fine with me, but that lot is not coming in." "I understand." "We're not welcome here." "Who do you think you are?" "Is it because we're from Waterhoek?" "Mira, don't take it like that." "Go to hell with your pretty manners and your lousy hotel." "It's full of lice here anyway." "You'll be comfortable here." "It's my late father's bed." "Did he die in it?" " Yes." "He was the finest person I've ever known." "Isn't that right, Mira?" " Yes, he was, Zale." "Children, I'll leave you alone now." "Sleep well." "Or rather:" "Don't sleep too much." "I had wanted to take you to Brussels for our wedding night." "Isn't this good enough for you?" "Are you asleep?" " No." "Don't I get a kiss?" "Yes." " Stay where you are." "Treute, sitting nicely in the sun?" "Will you be a good boy?" "Where are you going?" " Away." "For good?" " Yes." "That's what married women do." "But you're worse..." " Worse than my mother." "I think so too." "Yes, Treute." "You're the only one I'll miss." "The only one?" "You too, grandfather." "Mr Notary." "Can I come along?" "Where do you want to go?" " To the station." "And from there?" " To Ghent." "I can take you to Ghent along the new brick road." "Have you been in an automobile before?" "Aren't you afraid?" "Me?"