hans brinker-第42节

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r　him。　　Some　shopkeepers　had　just　supplied　themselves；　others　needed　a　trimmer；　more　lightly　built　fellow　（they　meant　better　dressed　but　did　not　choose　to　say　so）；　others　told　him　to　call　again　in　a　month　or　two；　when　the　canals　would　probably　be　broken　up；　and　many　shook　their　heads　at　him　without　saying　a　word。

At　the　factories　he　met　with　no　better　luck。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　in　those　great　buildings；　turning　out　respectively　such　tremendous　quantities　of　woolen；　cotton；　and　linen　stuffs；　such　world…renowned　dyes　and　paints；　such　precious　diamonds　cut　from　the　rough；　such　supplies　of　meal；　of　bricks；　of　glass　and　chinathat　in　at　least　one　of　these；　a　strong…armed　boy；　able　and　eager　to　work；　could　find　something　to　do。　　But　nonearly　the　same　answer　met　him　everywhere。　　No　need　of　more　hands　just　now。　　If　he　had　called　before　Saint　Nicholas's　Day　they　might　have　given　him　a　job　as　they　were　hurried　then；　but　at　present　they　had　more　boys　than　they　needed。　　Hans　wished　they　could　see；　just　for　a　moment；　his　mother　and　Gretel。　　He　did　not　know　how　the　anxiety　of　both　looked　out　from　his　eyes；　and　how；　more　than　once；　the　gruffest　denials　were　uttered　with　an　uncomfortable　consciousness　that　the　lad　ought　not　be　turned　away。　　Certain　fathers；　when　they　went　home　that　night；　spoke　more　kindly　than　usual　to　their　youngsters；　from　memory　of　a　frank；　young　face　saddened　at　their　words；　and　before　morning　one　man　actually　resolved　that　he　would　instruct　his　head　man　Blankert　to　set　the　boy　from　Broek　at　something　if　he　should　come　in　again。

But　Hans　knew　nothing　of　all　this。　　Toward　sundown　he　started　on　his　return　to　Broek；　uncertain　whether　the　strange；　choking　sensation　in　his　throat　arose　from　discouragement　or　resolution。　　There　was　certainly　one　more　chance。　　Mynheer　van　Holp　might　have　returned　by　this　time。　　Master　Peter；　it　was　reported；　had　gone　to　Haarlem　the　night　before　to　attend　to　something　connected　with　the　great　skating　race。　　Still；　Hans　would　go　and　try。

Fortunately　Peter　had　returned　early　that　morning。　　He　was　at　home　when　Hans　reached　there　and　was　just　about　starting　for　the　Brinker　cottage。

〃Ah；　Hans！〃　he　cried　as　the　weary　boy　approached　the　door。　　〃You　are　the　very　one　I　wished　to　see。　　〃You　are　the　very　one　I　wished　to　see。　　Come　in　and　warm　yourself。〃

After　tugging　at　his　well…worn　hat；　which　always　WOULD　stick　to　his　head　when　he　was　embarrassed；　Hans　knelt　down；　not　by　way　of　making　a　new　style　of　oriental　salute；　nor　to　worship　the　goddess　of　cleanliness　who　presided　there；　but　because　his　heavy　shoes　would　have　filled　the　soul　of　a　Broek　housewife　with　horror。　　When　their　owner　stepped　softly　into　the　house；　they　were　left　outside　to　act　as　sentinels　until　his　return。


Hans　left　the　Van　Holp　mansion　with　a　lightened　heart。　　Peter　had　brought　word　from　Haarlem　that　young　Brinker　was　to　commence　working　upon　the　summer…house　doors　immediately。　　There　was　a　comfortable　workshop　on　the　place　and　it　was　to　be　at　his　service　until　the　carving　was　done。

Peter　did　not　tell　him　that　he　had　skated　all　the　way　to　Haarlem　for　the　purpose　of　arranging　this　plan　with　Mynheer　van　Holp。　　It　was　enough　for　him　to　see　the　glad；　eager　look　rise　on　young　Brinker's　face。

〃I　THINK　I　can　do　it；〃　said　Hans；　〃though　I　have　never　learned　the　trade。〃

〃I　am　SURE　you　can；〃　responded　Peter　heartily。　　〃You　will　find　every　tool　you　require　in　the　workshop。　　It　is　nearly　hidden　yonder　by　that　wall　of　twigs。　　In　summer；　when　the　hedge　is　green；　one　cannot　see　the　shop　from　here　at　all。　　How　is　your　father　today？〃

〃Better；　mynheer。　　He　improves　every　hour。〃

〃It　is　the　most　astonishing　thing　I　ever　heard　of。　　That　gruff　old　doctor　is　a　great　fellow　after　all。〃

〃Ah；　mynheer；〃　said　Hans　warmly；　〃he　is　more　than　great。　　He　is　good。　　But　for　the　meester's　kind　heart　and　great　skill　my　poor　father　would　yet　be　in　the　dark。　　I　think；　mynheer；〃　he　added　with　kindling　eyes；　〃surgery　is　the　very　noblest　science　in　the　world！〃

Peter　shrugged　his　shoulders。　　〃Very　noble　it　may　be；　but　not　quite　to　my　taste。　　This　Dr。　Boekman　certainly　has　skill。　　As　for　his　heartdefend　me　from　such　hearts　as　his！〃

〃Why　do　you　say　so；　mynheer？〃　asked　Hans。

Just　then　a　lady　slowly　entered　from　an　adjoining　apartment。　　It　was　Mevrouw　van　Holp　arrayed　in　the　grandest　of　caps　and　the　longest　of　satin　aprons　ruffled　with　lace。　　She　nodded　placidly　as　Hans　stepped　back　from　the　fire；　bowing　as　well　as　he　knew　how。

Peter　at　once　drew　a　high…backed　oaken　chair　toward　the　fire；　and　the　lady　seated　herself。　　There　was　a　block　of　cork　on　each　side　of　the　chimney　place。　　One　of　these　he　placed　under　his　mother's　feet。

Hans　turned　to　go。

〃Wait　a　moment；　if　you　please；　young　man；〃　said　the　lady。　　〃I　accidentally　overheard　you　and　my　son　speaking；　I　think；　of　my　friend　Dr。　Boekman。　　You　are　right；　young　man。　　Dr。　Boekman　has　a　very　kind　heart。　　You　perceive；　Peter；　that　we　may　be　quite　mistaken　in　judging　a　person　solely　by　his　manners；　though　a　courteous　deportment　is　by　no　means　to　be　despised。〃

〃I　intended　no　disrespect；　mother；〃　said　Peter；　〃but　surely　one　has　no　right　to　go　growling　and　snarling　through　the　world　as　they　say　he　does。〃

〃They　say。　　Ah；　Peter；　'they'　means　everybody　or　nobody。　　Surgeon　Boekman　has　had　a　great　sorrow。　　Many　years　ago　he　lost　his　only　child　under　very　painful　circumstances。　　A　fine　lad；　except　that　he　was　a　thought　too　hasty　and　high…spirited。　　Before　then　Gerard　Boekman　was　one　of　the　most　agreeable　gentlemen　I　ever　knew。〃

So　saying；　Mevrouw　van　Holp；　looking　kindly　upon　the　two　boys；　rose；　and　left　the　room　with　the　same　dignity　with　which　she　had　entered。

Peter；　only　half　convinced；　muttered　something　about　〃the　sin　of　allowing　sorrow　to　turn　all　one's　honey　into　gall〃　as　he　conducted　his　visitor　to　the　narrow　side　door。　　Before　they　parted；　he　advised　Hans　to　keep　himself　in　good　skating　order；　〃for；〃　he　added；　〃now　that　your　father　is　all　right；　you　will　be　in　fine　spirits　for　the　race。　　That　will　be　the　prettiest　skating　show　ever　seen　in　this　part　of　the　world。　　Everybody　is　talking　of　it；　you　are　to　try　for　the　prize；　remember。〃

〃I　shall　not　be　in　the　race；　mynheer；〃　said　Hans；　looking　down。

〃Not　in　the　race！　　Why　not；　indeed！〃　　And　immediately　Peter's　thoughts　swept　on　a　full　tide　of　suspicion　toward　Carl　Schummel。

〃Because　I　cannot；　mynheer；〃　answered　Hans　as　he　bent　to　slip　his　feet　into　his　big　shoes。

Something　in　the　boy's　manner　warned　Peter　that　it　would　be　no　kindness　to　press　the　matter　further。　　He　bade　Hans　good…bye；　and　stood　thoughtfully　watching　him　as　he　walked　away。

In　a　minute　Peter　called　out；　〃Hans　Brinker！〃

〃Yes；　mynheer。〃

〃I'll　take　back　all　I　said　about　Dr。　Boekman。〃

〃Yes；　mynheer。〃

Both　were　laughing。　　But　Peter's　smile　changed　to　a　look　of　puzzled　surprise　when　he　saw　Hans　kneel　down　by　the　canal　and　put　on　the　wooden　skates。

〃Very　queer；〃　muttered　Peter；　shaking　his　head　as　he　turned　to　go　into　the　house。　　〃Why　in　the　world　doesn't　the　boy　wear　his　new　ones？〃



The　Fairy　Godmother


/spell/　The　sun　had　gone　down　quite　out　of　sight　when　our　herowith　a　happy　heart　but　with　something　like　a　sneer　on　his　countenance　as　he　jerked　off　the　wooden　〃runners〃trudged　hopefully　toward　the　tiny　hutlike　building；　known　of　old　as　the　〃idiot's　cottage。〃

Duller　eyes　than　his　would　have　discerned　two　slight　figures　moving　near　the　doorway。

That　gray　well…patched　jacket　and　the　dull　blue　skirt　covered　with　an　apron　of　still　duller　blue；　that　faded　close…fitting　cap；　and　those　quick　little　feet　in　their　great　boatlike　shoes；　they　were　Gretel's　of　course。　　He　would　have　known　them　anywhere。

That　bright　coquettish　red　jacket；　with　its　pretty　skirt；　bordered　with　black；　that　graceful　cap　bobbing　over　the　gold　earrings；　that　dainty　apron；　and　those　snug　leather　shoes　that　seemed　to　have　grown　with　the　feetwhy　if　the　Pope　of　Rome　had　sent　them　to　him　by　express；　Hans　could　have　sworn　they　were　Annie's。

The　two　girls　were　slowly　pacing　up　and　down　in　front　of　the　cottage。　　Their　arms　were　entwined；　of　course；　and　their　heads　were　nodding　and　shaking　as　emphatically　as　if　all　the　affairs　of　the　kingdom　were　under　discussion。

With　a　joyous　shout　Hans　hastened　toward　them。

〃Huzza；　girls；　I've　found　work！〃

This　brought　his　mother　to　the　cottage　door。

She；　too；　had　pleasant　tidings。　　The　father　was　still　improving。　　He　had　been　sitting　up　nearly　all　day　and　was　now　sleeping　as　Dame　Brinker　declared；　〃Just　as　quiet　as　a　lamb。〃

〃It　is　my　turn　now；　Hans；〃　said　Annie；　drawing　him　aside　after　he　had　told　his　mother　the　good　word　from　Mynheer　van　Holp。　　〃Your　skates　are　sold；　and　here's　the　money。〃

〃Seven　guilders！〃　cried　Hans；　counting　the　pieces　in　astonishment。　　〃Why；　that　is　three　times　as　much　as　I　paid　for　them。〃

〃I　cannot　help　that；〃　said　Annie。　　〃If　the　buyer　knew　no　better；　that　is　not　our　fault。〃

Hans　looked　up　quickly。

〃Oh；　Annie！〃

〃Oh；　Hans！〃　she　mimicked；　pursing　her　lips；　and　trying　to　look　desperately　wicked　and　unprincipled。

〃Now；　Annie；　I　know　you　would　never　mean　that！　　You　must　return　some　of　this　money。〃

〃But　I'll　not　do　any　such　thing；〃　insisted　Annie。　　〃They're　sold；　and　that's　an　end　of