After giving final vent to his fury, Master Dussel left the room with an expression of mixed wrath and triumph, his coat stuffed with food. I dashed to Daddy and told him all that he had not already heard of the story. Pim decided to talk to Mr. Dussel the same evening, which he did. They talked for over half an hour. The theme of the conversation was something like this: first of all they talked about whether Anne should sit at the table, yes or no. Daddy said that they had already discussed the subject once before, when he had professed to agree with Mr. Dussel, in order not to put him in the wrong in front of the young. But Daddy had not thought it fair then. Mr.
Dussel thought that I should not speak as if he was an intruder who tried to monopolise everything, but Daddy stuck up for me firmly over that, because he had heard for himself that I had not breathed a word of such a thing.
To and fro it went. Daddy defending my selfishness and my ‘trifling’ work, Mr. Dussel grumbling continually.
Finally, Mr. Dussel had to give in after all, and I had the opportunity of working undisturbed until 5 o’clock for two afternoons a week. Mr. Dussel looked down his nose very much, didn’t speak to me for two days and still had to go and sit at the table from five till half past five—frightfully childish.
A person of fifty-four who is still so pedantic and small minded must be so by nature, and will never improve.
Yours, Anne
Friday, 16 July, 1943
Dear Kitty, Burglars again, but real this time! This morning Peter went to the warehouse at 7 o’clock as usual, and at once noticed that both the