Summary

Laurens van Luyken and his wife Digna are walking home behind their daughter Johanna and her fiancé Fritz. Laurens and his wife are not happy about the match, because Johanna will move away from Vreeland to Amsterdam with Fritz, whom they see as an interloper. They discuss what kind of gift they should give the happy couple. When Johanna suggests giving the couple the painting of the girl looking out the window, Laurens objects. He tells Digna that the painting reminds him of Tanneke, a girl he was briefly in love with, long before they were married.

“The way the girl is looking out the window. Waiting for someone. And her hand. Upturned, and so delicate. Inviting a kiss.” (p. 67). Laurens says that the painting reminds him of Tanneke, who lived in Zandvoort. Laurens says that he was like Johanna and Fritz, when he was with...