hans brinker-第37节

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with　cold；　buried　her　face　in　her　arms　and　cried　as　if　her　heart　would　break。

The　poor　child　had　been　tasked　beyond　her　strength　during　the　past　four　days。　　Through　all；　she　had　been　her　mother's　willing　little　handmaiden；　soothing；　helping；　and　cheering　the　half…widowed　woman　by　day　and　watching　and　praying　beside　her　all　the　long　night。　　She　knew　that　something　terrible　and　mysterious　was　taking　place　at　this　moment；　something　that　had　been　too　terrible　and　mysterious　for　even　kind；　good　Hans　to　tell。

Then　new　thoughts　came。　　Why　had　not　Hans　told　her？　　It　was　a　shame。　　It　was　HER　father　as　well　as　his。　　She　was　no　baby。　　She　had　once　taken　a　sharp　knife　from　the　father's　hand。　　She　had　even　drawn　him　away　from　the　mother　on　that　awful　night　when　Hans；　as　big　as　he　was；　could　not　help　her。　　Why；　then；　must　she　be　treated　like　one　who　could　do　nothing？　　oh；　how　very　still　it　washow　bitter；　bitter　cold！　　If　Annie　Bouman　had　only　stayed　home　instead　of　going　to　Amsterdam；　it　wouldn't　be　so　lonely。　　How　cold　her　feet　were　growing！　　Was　it　the　moaning　that　made　her　feel　as　if　she　were　floating　in　the　air？

This　would　not　dothe　mother　might　need　her　help　at　any　moment！

Rousing　herself　with　an　effort；　Gretel　sat　upright；　rubbing　her　eyes　and　wonderingwondering　that　the　sky　was　so　bright　and　blue；　wondering　at　the　stillness　in　the　cottage；　more　than　all；　at　the　laughter　rising　and　falling　in　the　distance。

Soon　she　sank　down　again；　the　strange　medley　of　thought　growing　more　and　more　confused　in　her　bewildered　brain。

What　a　strange　lip　the　meester　had！　　How　the　stork's　nest　upon　the　roof　seemed　to　rustle　and　whisper　down　to　her！　　How　bright　those　knives　were　in　the　leather　casebrighter　perhaps　than　the　silver　skates。　　If　she　had　but　worn　her　new　jacket；　she　would　not　shiver　so。　　The　new　jacket　was　prettythe　only　pretty　thing　she　had　ever　worn。　　God　had　taken　care　of　her　father　so　long。　　He　would　do　it　still；　if　those　two　men　would　but　go　away。　　Ah；　now　the　meesters　were　on　the　roof；　they　were　clambering　to　the　topnoit　was　her　mother　and　Hansor　the　storks。　　It　was　so　dark；　who　could　tell？　　And　the　mound　rocking；　swinging　in　that　strange　way。　　How　sweetly　the　birds　were　singing。　　They　must　be　winter　birds；　for　the　air　was　thick　with　iciclesnot　one　bird　but　twenty。　　Oh！　hear　them；　Mother。　　Wake　me；　Mother；　for　the　race。　　I　am　so　tired　with　crying；　and　crying

A　firm　hand　was　laid　upon　her　shoulder。

〃Get　up；　little　girl！〃　cried　a　kind　voice。　　〃This　will　not　do；　for　you　to　lie　here　and　freeze。〃

Gretel　slowly　raised　her　head。　　She　was　so　sleepy　that　it　seemed　nothing　strange　to　her　that　Hilda　van　Gleck　should　be　leaning　over　her；　looking　with　kind；　beautiful　eyes　into　her　face。　　She　had　often　dreamed　it　before。

But　she　had　never　dreamed　that　Hilda　was　shaking　her　roughly；　almost　dragging　her　by　main　force；　never　dreamed　that　she　heard　her　saying；　〃Gretel！　　Gretel　Brinker！　　You　MUST　wake！〃

This　was　real。　　Gretel　looked　up。　　Still　the　lovely　delicate　young　lady　was　shaking；　rubbing；　fairly　pounding　her。　　It　must　be　a　dream。　　No；　there　was　the　cottageand　the　stork's　nest　and　the　meester's　coach　by　the　canal。　　She　could　see　them　now　quite　plainly。　　Her　hands　were　tingling；　her　feet　throbbing。　　Hilda　was　forcing　her　to　walk。

At　last　Gretel　began　to　feel　like　herself　again。

〃I　have　been　asleep；〃　she　faltered；　rubbing　her　eyes　with　both　hands　and　looking　very　much　ashamed。

〃Yes；　indeed；　entirely　too　much　asleep〃laughed　Hilda；　whose　lips　were　very　pale〃but　you　are　well　enough　now。　　Lean　upon　me；　Gretel。　　There；　keep　moving；　you　will　soon　be　warm　enough　to　go　by　the　fire。　　Now　let　me　take　you　into　the　cottage。〃

〃Oh；　no！　no！　no！　jufvrouw；　not　in　there！　　The　meester　is　there。　　He　sent　me　away！〃

Hilda　was　puzzled；　but　she　wisely　forebore　to　ask　at　present　for　an　explanation。　　〃Very　well；　Gretel；　try　to　walk　faster。　　I　saw　you　upon　the　mound；　some　time　ago；　but　I　thought　you　were　playing。　　That　is　right；　keep　moving。〃

All　this　time　the　kindhearted　girl　had　been　forcing　Gretel　to　walk　up　and　down；　supporting　her　with　one　arm　and；　with　the　other；　striving　as　well　as　she　could　to　take　off　her　own　warm　sacque。

Suddenly　Gretel　suspected　her　intention。

〃Oh；　jufvrouw！　jufvrouw！〃　she　cried　imploringly。　　〃PLEASE　never　think　of　such　a　thing　as　THAT。　　Oh！　please　keep　it　on；　I　am　burning　all　over；　jufvrouw！　　I　really　am　burning。　　Not　burning　exactly；　but　pins　and　needles　pricking　all　over　me。　　Oh；　jufvrouw；　don't！〃

The　poor　child's　dismay　was　so　genuine　that　Hilda　hastened　to　reassure　her。

〃Very　well；　Gretel；　move　your　arms　thenso。　　Why；　your　cheeks　are　as　pink　as　roses；　already。　　I　think　the　meester　would　let　you　in　now；　he　certainly　would。　　Is　your　father　so　very　ill？〃

〃Ah；　jufvrouw；〃　cried　Gretel；　weeping　afresh；　〃he　is　dying；　I　think。　　There　are　two　meesters　in　with　him　at　this　moment；　and　the　mother　has　scarcely　spoken　today。　　Can　you　hear　him　moan；　jufvrouw？〃　she　added　with　sudden　terror。　　〃The　air　buzzes　so　I　cannot　hear。　　He　may　be　dead！　　Oh；　I　do　wish　I　could　hear　him！〃

Hilda　listened。　　The　cottage　was　very　near；　but　not　a　sound　could　be　heard。

Something　told　her　that　Gretel　was　right。　　She　ran　to　the　window。

〃You　cannot　see　there；　my　lady；〃　sobbed　Gretel　eagerly。　　〃The　mother　has　oiled　paper　hanging　inside。　　But　at　the　other　one；　in　the　south　end　of　the　cottage；　you　can　look　in　where　the　paper　is　torn。〃

Hilda；　in　her　anxiety；　ran　around；　past　the　corner　where　the　low　roof　was　fringed　with　its　loosened　thatch。

A　sudden　thought　checked　her。

〃It　is　not　right　for　me　to　peep　into　another's　house　in　this　way；〃　she　said　to　herself。　　Then；　softly　calling　to　Gretel；　she　added　in　a　whisper；　〃You　may　lookperhaps　he　is　only　sleeping。〃

Gretel　tried　to　walk　briskly　toward　the　spot；　but　her　limbs　were　trembling。　　Hilda　hastened　to　her　support。

〃You　are　sick；　yourself；　I　fear；〃　she　said　kindly。

〃No；　not　sick；　jufvrouw；　but　my　heart　cries　all　the　time　now；　even　when　my　eyes　are　as　dry　as　yours。　　Why；　jufvrouw；　your　eyes　are　not　dry！　　Are　you　crying　for　US？　　Oh；　jufvrouw；　if　God　sees　you！　　Oh！　　I　know　father　will　get　better　now。〃　　And　the　little　creature；　even　while　reaching　to　look　through　the　tiny　window；　kissed　Hilda's　hand　again　and　again。

The　sash　was　sadly　patched　and　broken；　a　torn　piece　of　paper　hung　halfway　down　across　it。　　Gretel's　face　was　pressed　to　the　window。

〃Can　you　see　anything？〃　whispered　Hilda　at　last。

〃Yesthe　father　lies　very　still；　his　head　is　bandaged；　and　all　their　eyes　are　fastened　upon　him。　　Oh；　jufvrouw！〃　almost　screamed　Gretel；　as　she　started　back　and；　by　a　quick；　dexterous　movement　shook　off　her　heavy　wooden　shoes。　　〃I　MUST　go　in　to　my　mother！　　Will　you　come　with　me？〃

〃Not　now；　the　bell　is　ringing。　　I　shall　come　again　soon。　　Good…bye！〃

Gretel　scarcely　heard　the　words。　　She　remembered　for　many　a　day　afterward　the　bright；　pitying　smile　on　Hilda's　face　as　she　turned　away。




The　Awakening



An　angel　could　not　have　entered　the　cottage　more　noiselessly。　　Gretel；　not　daring　to　look　at　anyone；　slid　softly　to　her　mother's　side。

The　room　was　very　still。　　She　could　hear　the　old　doctor　breathe。　　She　could　almost　hear　the　sparks　as　they　fell　into　the　ashes　on　the　hearth。　　The　mother's　hand　was　very　cold；　but　a　burning　spot　glowed　on　her　cheek；　and　her　eyes　were　like　a　deer'sso　bright；　so　sad；　so　eager。

At　last　there　was　a　movement　upon　the　bed；　very　slight；　but　enough　to　cause　them　all　to　start。　　Dr。　Boekman　leaned　eagerly　forward。

Another　movement。　　The　large　hands；　so　white　and　soft　for　a　poor　man's　hand；　twitched；　then　raised　itself　steadily　toward　the　forehead。

It　felt　the　bandage；　not　in　a　restless；　crazy　way　but　with　a　questioning　movement　that　caused　even　Dr。　Boekman　to　hold　his　breath。

〃Steady！　　Steady！〃　said　a　voice　that　sounded　very　strange　to　Gretel。　　〃Shift　that　mat　higher；　boys！　　Now　throw　on　the　clay。　　The　waters　are　rising　fast；　no　time　to〃

Dame　Brinker　sprang　forward　like　a　young　panther。

She　seized　his　hands　and；　leaning　over　him；　cried；　〃Raff！　　Raff；　boy；　speak　to　me！〃

〃Is　it　you；　Meitje？〃　he　asked　faintly。　　〃I　have　been　asleep；　hurt；　I　think。　　Where　is　little　Hans？〃

〃Here　I　am；　Father！〃　shouted　Hans；　half　mad　with　joy。　　But　the　doctor　held　him　back。

〃He　knows　us！〃　screamed　Dame　Brinker。　　〃Great　God！　　He　knows　us！　　Gretel！　　Gretel！　　Come；　see　your　father！〃

In　vain　Dr。　Boekman　commanded　〃Silence！〃　and　tried　to　force　them　from　the　bedside。　　He　could　not　keep　them　off。

Hans　and　the　mother　laughed　and　cried　together　as　they　hung　over　the　newly　awakened　man。　　Gretel　made　no　sound　but　gazed　at　them　all　with　glad；　startled　eyes。　　Her　father　was　speaking　in　a　faint　voice。

〃Is　the　baby　asleep；　Meitje？〃

〃The　baby！〃　echoed　Dame　Brinker。　　〃Oh；　Gretel；　that　is　you！　　And　he　calls　Hans　'little　Hans。'　　Ten　years　asleep！　　Oh；　mynheer；　you　have　saved　us　all。　　He　has　known　nothing　for　ten　years！　　Children；　why　don't　you　thank　the　meester？〃

The　good　woman　was　beside　herself　with　joy。　　Dr。　Boekman　said　nothing；　but　as　his　eye　met　hers；　he　pointed　upward。　　She　understood。　　So　did　Hans　and　Gretel。

With　one　accord　they　knelt　by　the　cot；　side　by　side。　　Dame　Brinker　felt　for　her　husband's　hand　even　while　she　was　pr