hans brinker-第36节

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〃The　question　is　EVERYTHING　to　us；　mynheer；〃　said　Hans　with　tearful　dignity。

Dr。　Boekman　looked　at　him　in　sudden　dismay。

〃Ah！　　Exactly　so。　　You　are　right；　boy；　I　am　a　fool。　　Good　boy。　　One　does　not　wish　one's　father　killedof　course　I　am　a　fool。〃

〃Will　he　die；　mynheer；　if　this　sickness　goes　on？〃

〃Humph！　　This　is　no　new　illness。　　The　same　thing　growing　worse　ever　instantpressure　on　the　brainwill　take　him　off　soon　like　THAT；〃　said　the　doctor；　snapping　his　fingers。

〃And　the　operation　MAY　save　him；〃　pursued　Hans。　　〃How　soon；　mynheer；　can　we　know？〃

Dr。　Boekman　grew　impatient。

〃In　a　day；　perhaps；　an　hour。　　Talk　with　your　mother；　boy；　and　let　her　decide。　　My　time　is　short。〃

Hans　approached　his　mother；　at　first；　when　she　looked　up　at　him；　he　could　not　utter　a　syllable；　then；　turning　his　eyes　away；　he　said　in　a　firm　voice；　〃I　must　speak　with　the　mother　alone。〃

Quick　little　Gretel；　who　could　not　quite　understand　what　was　passing；　threw　rather　an　indignant　look　at　Hans　and　walked　away。

〃Come　back；　Gretel；　and　sit　down；〃　said　Hans；　sorrowfully。

She　obeyed。

Dame　Brinker　and　her　boy　stood　by　the　window　while　the　doctor　and　his　assistant；　bending　over　the　bedside；　conversed　together　in　a　low　tone。　　There　was　no　danger　of　disturbing　the　patient。　　He　appeared　like　one　blind　and　deaf。　　Only　his　faint；　piteous　moans　showed　him　to　be　a　living　man。　　Hans　was　talking　earnestly；　and　in　a　low　voice；　for　he　did　not　wish　his　sister　to　hear。

With　dry；　parted　lips；　Dame　Brinker　leaned　toward　him；　searching　his　face；　as　if　suspecting　a　meaning　beyond　his　words。　　Once　she　gave　a　quick；　frightened　sob　that　made　Gretel　start；　but；　after　that；　she　listened　calmly。

When　Hans　ceased　to　speak；　his　mother　turned；　gave　one　long；　agonized　look　at　her　husband；　lying　there　so　pale　and　unconscious；　and　threw　herself　on　her　knees　beside　the　bed。

Poor　little　Gretel！　　What　did　all　this　mean？　　She　looked　with　questioning　eyes　at　Hans；　he　was　standing；　but　his　head　was　bent　as　if　in　prayerat　the　doctor。　　He　was　gently　feeling　her　father's　head　and　looked　like　one　examining　some　curious　stoneat　the　assistant。　　The　man　coughed　and　turned　awayat　her　mother。　　Ah；　little　Gretel；　that　was　the　best　you　could　doto　kneel　beside　her　and　twine　your　warm；　young　arms　about　her　neck；　to　weep　and　implore　God　to　listen。

When　the　mother　arose；　Dr。　Boekman；　with　a　show　of　trouble　in　his　eyes；　asked　gruffly；　〃Well；　jufvrouw；　shall　it　be　done？〃

〃Will　it　pain　him；　mynheer？〃　she　asked　in　a　trembling　voice。

〃I　cannot　say。　　Probably　not。　　Shall　it　be　done？〃

〃It　MAY　cure　him；　you　said；　andmynheer；　did　you　tell　my　boy　thatperhapsperhaps。　。　。〃　　She　could　not　finish。

〃Yes；　jufvrouw；　I　said　the　patient　might　sink　under　the　operation；　but　we　hope　it　may　prove　otherwise。〃　　He　looked　at　his　watch。　　The　assistant　moved　impatiently　toward　the　window。　　〃Come；　jufvrouw；　time　presses。　　Yes　or　no？〃

Hans　wound　his　arm　about　his　mother。　　It　was　not　his　usual　way。　　He　even　leaned　his　head　against　her　shoulder。

〃The　meester　awaits　an　answer；〃　he　whispered。

Dame　Brinker　had　long　been　head　of　her　house　in　every　sense。　　Many　a　time　she　had　been　very　stern　with　Hans；　ruling　him　with　a　strong　hand　and　rejoicing　in　her　motherly　discipline。　　NOW　she　felt　so　weak；　so　helpless。　　It　was　something　to　feel　that　firm　embrace。　　There　was　strength　even　in　the　touch　of　that　yellow　hair。

She　turned　to　her　boy　imploringly。

〃Oh；　Hans！　　What　shall　I　say？〃

〃Say　what　God　tells　thee；　Mother；〃　answered　Hans；　bowing　his　head。

One　quick；　questioning　prayer　to　Heaven　rose　from　the　mother's　heart。

The　answer　came。

She　turned　toward　Dr。　Boekman。

〃It　is　right；　mynheer。　　I　consent。〃

〃Humph！〃　grunted　the　doctor；　as　if　to　say；　〃You've　been　long　enough　about　it。〃　　Then　he　conferred　a　moment　with　his　assistant；　who　listened　with　great　outward　deference　but　was　inwardly　rejoicing　at　the　grand　joke　he　would　have　to　tell　his　fellow　students。　　He　had　actually　seen　a　tear　in　〃old　Boekman's〃　eye。

Meanwhile　Gretel　looked　on　in　trembling　silence；　but　when　she　saw　the　doctor　open　a　leather　case　and　take　out　one　sharp；　gleaming　instrument　after　another；　she　sprang　forward。

〃Oh；　Mother！　　The　poor　father　meant　no　wrong。　　Are　they　going　to　MURDER　him？〃

〃I　do　not　know；　child；〃　screamed　Dame　Brinker；　looking　fiercely　at　Gretel。　　〃I　do　not　know。〃

〃This　will　not　do；　jufvrouw；〃　said　Dr。　Boekman　sternly；　and　at　the　same　time　he　cast　a　quick；　penetrating　look　at　Hans。　　〃You　and　the　girl　must　leave　the　room。　　The　boy　may　stay。〃

Dame　Brinker　drew　herself　up　in　an　instant。　　Her　eyes　flashed。　　Her　whole　countenance　was　changed。　　She　looked　like　one　who　had　never　wept；　never　felt　a　moment's　weakness。　　Her　voice　was　low　but　decided。　　〃I　stay　with　my　husband；　mynheer。〃

Dr。　Boekman　looked　astonished。　　His　orders　were　seldom　disregarded　in　this　style。　　For　an　instant　his　eye　met　hers。

〃You　may　remain；　jufvrouw；〃　he　said　in　an　altered　voice。

Gretel　had　already　disappeared。

In　one　corner　of　the　cottage　was　a　small　closet　where　her　rough；　boxlike　bed　was　fastened　against　the　wall。　　None　would　think　of　the　trembling　little　creature　crouching　there　in　the　dark。

Dr。　Boekman　took　off　his　heavy　coat；　filled　an　earthen　basin　with　water；　and　placed　it　near　the　bed。　　Then　turning　to　Hans　he　asked；　〃Can　I　depend　upon　you；　boy？〃

〃You　can；　mynheer。〃

〃I　believe　you。　　Stand　at　the　head；　hereyour　mother　may　sit　at　your　rightso。〃　　And　he　placed　a　chair　near　the　cot。

〃Remember；　jufvrouw；　there　must　be　no　cries；　no　fainting。〃

Dame　Brinker　answered　him　with　a　look。

He　was　satisfied。

〃Now；　Vollenhoven。〃

Oh；　that　case　with　the　terrible　instruments！　　The　assistant　lifted　them。　　Gretel；　who　had　been　peering　with　brimming　eyes　through　the　crack　of　the　closet　door；　could　remain　silent　no　longer。

She　rushed　frantically　across　the　apartment；　seized　her　hood；　and　ran　from　the　cottage。





Gretel　and　Hilda



It　was　recess　hour。　　At　the　first　stroke　of　the　schoolhouse　bell；　the　canal　seemed　to　give　a　tremendous　shout　and　grow　suddenly　alive　with　boys　and　girls。

Dozens　of　gaily　clad　children　were　skating　in　and　out　among　each　other；　and　all　their　pent…up　merriment　of　the　morning　was　relieving　itself　in　song　and　shout　and　laughter。　　There　was　nothing　to　check　the　flow　of　frolic。　　Not　a　thought　of　schoolbooks　came　out　with　them　into　the　sunshine。　　Latin；　arithmetic；　grammarall　were　locked　up　for　an　hour　in　the　dingy　schoolroom。　　The　teacher　might　be　a　noun　if　he　wished；　and　a　proper　one　at　that；　but　THEY　meant　to　enjoy　themselves。　　As　long　as　the　skating　was　as　perfect　as　this；　it　made　no　difference　whether　Holland　were　on　the　North　Pole　or　the　equator；　and；　as　for　philosophy；　how　could　they　bother　themselves　with　inertia　and　gravitation　and　such　things　when　it　was　as　much　as　they　could　do　to　keep　from　getting　knocked　over　in　the　commotion。

In　the　height　of　the　fun；　one　of　the　children　called　out；　〃What　is　that？〃

〃What？　　Where？〃　cried　a　dozen　voices。

〃Why；　don't　you　see？　　That　dark　thing　over　there　by　the　idiot's　cottage。〃

〃I　don't　see　anything；〃　said　one。

〃I　do；〃　shouted　another。　　〃It's　a　dog。〃

〃Where's　any　dog？〃　put　in　a　squeaky　voice　that　we　have　heard　before。　　〃It's　no　such　thingit's　a　heap　of　rags。〃

〃Pooh！　　Voost；〃　retorted　another　gruffly；　〃that's　about　as　near　the　fact　as　you　ever　get。　　It's　the　goose　girl；　Gretel；　looking　for　rats。〃

〃Well；　what　of　it？〃　squeaked　Voost。　　〃Isn't　SHE　a　bundle　of　rags；　I'd　like　to　know？〃

〃Ha！　ha！　　Pretty　good　for　you；　Voost！　　You'll　get　a　medal　for　wit　yet；　if　you　keep　on。〃

〃You'd　get　something　else；　if　her　brother　Hans　were　here。　　I'll　warrant　you　would！〃　said　a　muffled…up　little　fellow　with　a　cold　in　his　head。〃

As　Hans　was　NOT　there；　Voost　could　afford　to　scout　the　insinuation。

〃Who　cares　for　HIM；　little　sneezer？　　I'd　fight　a　dozen　like　him　any　day；　and　you　in　the　bargain。〃

〃You　would；　would　you？　　I'd　like　to　catch　you　all　at　it；〃　and；　by　way　of　proving　his　words；　the　sneezer　skated　off　at　the　top　of　his　speed。

Just　then　a　general　chase　after　three　of　the　biggest　boys　of　the　school　was　proposedand　friend　and　foe；　frolicsome　as　ever；　were　soon　united　in　a　common　cause。

Only　one　of　all　that　happy　throng　remembered　the　dark　little　form　by　the　idiot's　cottage。　　Poor；　frightened　little　Gretel！　　She　was　not　thinking　of　them；　though　their　merry　laughter　floated　lightly　toward　her；　making　her　feel　like　one　in　a　dream。

How　loud　the　moans　were　behind　the　darkened　window！　　What　if　those　strange　men　were　really　killing　her　father！

The　thought　made　her　spring　to　her　feet　with　a　cry　of　horror。

〃Ah；　no！〃　　She　sobbed；　sinking　upon　the　frozen　mound　of　earth　where　she　had　been　sitting。　　Mother　is　there；　and　Hans。　　They　will　care　for　him。　　But　how　pale　they　were。　　And　even　Hans　was　crying！

Why　did　the　cross　old　meester　keep　him　and　send　me　away？　she　thought。　　I　could　have　clung　to　the　mother　and　kissed　her。　　That　always　makes　her　stroke　my　hair　and　speak　gently；　even　after　she　has　scolded　me。　　How　quiet　it　is　now！　　Oh；　if　the　father　should　die；　and　Hans；　and　the　mother；　what　WOULD　I　do？　　And　Gretel；　shivering　with　cold；　buried　her　face　in　her　arms　and　cried　as　if　her　heart　would　break。