half past seven
Again I am at a loss : I do n't know whether it was Juffrouw Zipperman who had rung , or somebody else . But the reader need not scold me for writing a story that I do n't know myself . I can not be sure whether it was Juffrouw Zipperman this time or Juffrouw Mabbel , from the bakery , or Juffrouw Krummel , whose husband is at the bourse , or Juffrouw Laps -- but she did n't need to ring , as she lived in the house . Anyway , by half past seven the entire company was assembled , and Stoffel was smoking his pipe as if his life depended upon it . Leentje had gone home without her piece of bread and butter . She `` could get it to-morrow '' ; to-day there was `` so much to do , '' and `` one ca n't do everything at once , you know . '' `` And then she got another one right away -- do n't you know ?