Chapter 49

Walter had been to church: that was now behind him. Stoffel thought the pastor had preached a beautiful sermon, and said that "in a way all he said could be accepted." He hoped that it would "bear fruit."

"Yes," said the mother, "and he mustn't tear his new breeches again. They cost too much hard work for that."

As a matter of fact the "hard work" done in the Pieterse family might be regarded as a negligible quantity. There was the necessary housework, and the usual complaining--or boasting, if you will--but this was to be expected.

That Walter had postponed his visit to go to church was a result of the frightful threats of Juffrouw Laps. She cited Second Chronicles