hans brinker-第45节

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〃So；　Mistress　Gretel！　　Here　you　are　at　last！〃


Before　Raff　awoke　that　evening；　the　fairy　godmother；　as　we　know；　had　been　in　the　cottage；　the　guilders　were　once　more　safely　locked　in　the　big　chest；　and　Dame　Brinker　and　the　children　were　faring　sumptuously　on　meat　and　white　bread　and　wine。

So　the　mother；　in　the　joy　of　her　heart；　told　them　the　story　of　the　watch　as　far　as　she　deemed　it　prudent　to　divulge　it。　　It　was　no　more　than　fair；　she　thought；　that　the　poor　things　should　know　after　keeping　the　secret　so　safe　ever　since　they　had　been　old　enough　to　know　anything。




A　Discovery



The　next　sun　brought　a　busy　day　to　the　Brinkers。　　In　the　first　place　the　news　of　the　thousand　guilders　had；　of　course；　to　be　told　to　the　father。　　Such　tidings　as　that　surely　could　not　harm　him。　　Then　while　Gretel　was　diligently　obeying　her　mother's　injunction　to　〃clean　the　place　fresh　as　a　new　brewing；〃　Hans　and　the　dame　sallied　forth　to　revel　in　the　purchasing　of　peat　and　provisions。

Hans　was　careless　and　contented；　the　dame　was　filled　with　delightful　anxieties　caused　by　the　unreasonable　demands　of　ten　thousand　guilders'　worth　of　new　wants　that　had　sprung　up　like　mushrooms　in　a　single　night。　　The　happy　woman　talked　so　largely　to　Hans　on　their　way　to　Amsterdam　and　brought　back　such　little　bundles　after　all　that　he　scratched　his　bewildered　head　as　he　leaned　against　the　chimney　piece；　wondering　whether　〃Bigger　the　pouch；　tighter　the　string〃　was　in　Jacob　Cats；　and　therefore　true；　or　whether　he　had　dreamed　it　when　he　lay　in　a　fever。

〃What　thinking　on；　Big…eyes？〃　chirruped　his　mother；　half　reading　his　thoughts　as　she　bustled　about；　preparing　the　dinner。　　〃What　thinking　on？　　Why；　Raff；　would　ye　believe　it；　the　child　thought　to　carry　half　Amsterdam　back　on　his　head。　　Bless　us！　　He　would　have　bought　us　as　much　coffee　as　would　have　filled　this　fire　pot。　　'No；　no；　my　lad；'　says　I。　　'No　time　for　leaks　when　the　ship　is　rich　laden。'　　And　then　how　he　staredayejust　as　he　stares　this　minute。　　Hoot；　lad；　fly　around　a　mite。　　Ye'll　grow　to　the　chimney　place　with　your　staring　and　wondering。　　Now；　Raff；　here's　your　chair　at　the　head　of　the　table；　where　it　should　be；　for　there's　a　man　to　the　house　nowI'd　say　it　to　the　king's　face。　　Aye；　that's　the　waylean　on　Hans。　　There's　a　strong　staff　for　you！　　Growing　like　a　weed；　too；　and　it　seems　only　yesterday　since　he　was　toddling。　　Sit　by；　my　man；　sit　by。〃

〃Can　you　call　to　mind；　vrouw；　〃said　Raff；　settling　himself　cautiously　in　the　big　chair；　〃the　wonderful　music　box　that　cheered　your　working　in　the　big　house　at　Heidelberg？〃

〃Aye；　that　I　can；〃　answered　the　dame。　　〃Three　turns　of　a　brass　key　and　the　witchy　thing　would　send　the　music　fairly　running　up　and　down　one's　back。　　I　remember　it　well。　　But；　Raff〃growing　solemn　in　an　instant〃you　would　never　throw　our　guilders　away　for　a　thing　like　that？〃

〃No；　no；　not　I；　vrouw；　for　the　good　Lord　has　already　given　me　a　music　box　without　pay。〃

All　three　cast　quick；　frightened　glances　at　one　another　and　at　Raff。　　Were　his　wits　on　the　wing　again？

〃Aye；　and　a　music　box　that　fifty　pouchful　would　not　buy　from　me；〃　insisted　Raff。　　〃And　it's　set　going　by　the　turn　of　a　mop　handle；　and　it　slips　and　glides　around　the　room；　everywhere　in　a　flash；　carrying　the　music　about　till　you'd　swear　the　birds　were　back　again。〃

〃Holy　Saint　Bavon！〃　screeched　the　dame。　　〃What's　in　the　man？〃

〃Comfort　and　joy；　vrouw；　that's　what's　in　him！　　Ask　Gretel；　ask　my　little　music　box　Gretel　if　your　man　has　lacked　comfort　and　joy　this　day。〃

〃Not　he；　Mother；〃　laughed　Gretel。　　〃He's　been　MY　music　box；　too。　　We　sang　together　half　the　time　you　were　gone。〃

〃Aye；　so；〃　said　the　dame；　greatly　relieved。　　〃Now；　Hans；　you'll　never　get　through　with　a　piece　like　that；　but　never　mind；　chick；　thou'st　had　a　long　fasting。　　Here；　Gretel；　take　another　slice　of　the　sausage。　　It'll　put　blood　in　your　cheeks。〃

〃Oh！　　Oh；　Mother；〃　laughed　Gretel；　eagerly　holding　forth　her　platter。　　〃Blood　doesn't　grow　in　girls'　cheeksyou　mean　roses。　　Isn't　it　roses；　Hans？〃

While　Hans　was　hastily　swallowing　a　mammoth　mouthful　in　order　to　give　a　suitable　reply　to　this　poetic　appeal；　Dame　Brinker　settled　the　matter　with　a　quick；　〃Well；　roses　or　blood；　it's　all　one　to　me；　so　the　red　finds　its　way　on　your　sunny　face。　　It's　enough　for　mother　to　get　pale　and　weary…looking　without〃

〃Hoot；　vrouw；〃　spoke　up　Raff　hastily；　〃thou'rt　fresher　and　rosier　this　minute　than　both　our　chicks　put　together。〃

This　remark；　though　not　bearing　very　strong　testimony　to　the　clearness　of　Raff's　newly　awakened　intellect；　nevertheless　afforded　the　dame　immense　satisfaction。　　The　meal　accordingly　went　on　in　the　most　delightful　manner。

After　dinner　the　affair　of　the　watch　was　talked　over　and　the　mysterious　initials　duly　discussed。

Hans　had　just　pushed　back　his　stool；　intending　to　start　at　once　for　Mynheer　van　Holp's；　and　his　mother　had　risen　to　put　the　watch　away　in　its　old　hiding　place；　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　wheels　upon　the　frozen　ground。

Someone　knocked　at　the　door；　opening　it　at　the　same　time。

〃Come　in；〃　stammered　Dame　Brinker；　hastily　trying　to　hide　the　watch　in　her　bosom。　　〃Oh；　is　it　you；　mynheer！　　Good　day！　　The　father　is　nearly　well；　as　you　see。　　It's　a　poor　place　to　greet　you　in；　mynheer；　and　the　dinner　not　cleared　away。〃

Dr。　Boekman　scarcely　noticed　the　dame's　apology。　　He　was　evidently　in　haste。

〃Ahem！〃　he　exclaimed。　　〃Not　needed　here；　I　perceive。　　The　patient　is　mending　fast。〃

〃Well　he　may；　mynheer；〃　cried　the　dame；　〃for　only　last　night　we　found　a　thousand　guilders　that's　been　lost　to　us　these　ten　years。〃

Dr。　Boekman　opened　his　eyes。

〃Yes；　mynheer；〃　said　Raff。　　〃I　bid　the　vrouw　tell　you；　though　it's　to　be　held　a　secret　among　us；　for　I　see　you　can　keep　your　lips　closed　as　well　as　any　man。〃

The　doctor　scowled。　　He　never　liked　personal　remarks。

〃Now；　mynheer；〃　continued　Raff；　〃you　can　take　your　rightful　pay。　　God　knows　you　have　earned　it；　if　bringing　such　a　poor　tool　back　to　the　world　and　his　family　can　be　called　a　service。　　Tell　the　vrouw　what's　to　pay；　mynheer。　　She　will　hand　out　the　sum　right　willingly。〃

〃Tut；　tut！〃　said　the　doctor　kindly。　　〃Say　nothing　about　money。　　I　can　find　plenty　of　such　pay　any　time；　but　gratitude　comes　seldom。　　That　boy's　thank…you；〃　he　added；　nodding　sidewise　toward　Hans；　was　pay　enough　for　me。〃

〃Like　enough　ye　have　a　boy　of　your　own；〃　said　Dame　Brinker；　quite　delighted　to　see　the　great　man　becoming　so　sociable。

Dr。　Boekman's　good　nature　vanished　at　once。　　He　gave　a　growl　（at　least；　it　seemed　so　to　Gretel）；　but　made　no　actual　reply。

〃Do　not　think　the　vrouw　meddlesome；　mynheer；〃　said　Raff。　　〃She　has　been　sore　touched　of　late　about　a　lad　whose　folks　have　gone　awaynone　knows　whereand　I　had　a　message　for　them　from　the　young　gentleman。〃

〃The　name　was　Boomphoffen；〃　said　the　dame　eagerly。　　〃Do　you　know　aught　of　the　family；　mynheer？〃

The　doctor's　reply　was　brief　and　gruff。

〃Yes。　　A　troublesome　set。　　They　went　long　since　to　America。〃

〃It　might　be；　Raff；〃　persisted　Dame　Brinker　timidly；　〃that　the　meester　knows　somebody　in　that　country；　though　I'm　told　they　are　mostly　savages　over　there。　　If　he　could　get　the　watch　to　the　Boomphoffens　with　the　poor　lad's　message；　it　would　be　a　most　blessed　thing。〃

〃Tut；　vrouw；　why　pester　the　good　meester；　and　dying　men　and　women　wanting　him　everywhere？　　How　do　ye　know　ye　have　the　true　name？〃

〃I'm　sure　of　it；〃　she　replied。　　〃They　had　a　son　Lambert；　and　there's　an　L　for　Lambert　and　a　B　for　Boomphoffen；　on　the　back；　though；　to　be　sure；　there's　an　odd　J；　too；　but　the　meester　can　look　for　himself。〃

So　saying；　she　drew　forth　the　watch。

〃L。J。B。！〃　cried　Dr。　Boekman；　springing　toward　her。

Why　attempt　to　describe　the　scene　that　followed？　　I　need　only　say　that　the　lad's　message　was　delivered　to　his　father　at　last；　delivered　while　the　great　surgeon　was　sobbing　like　a　little　child。

〃Laurens！　　My　Laurens！〃　he　cried；　gazing　with　yearning　eyes　at　the　watch　as　he　held　it　tenderly　in　his　palm。　　〃Ah；　if　I　had　but　known　sooner！　　Laurens　a　homeless　wanderergreat　heaven！　　He　may　be　suffering；　dying　at　this　moment！　　Think；　man；　where　is　he？　　Where　did　my　boy　say　that　the　letter　must　be　sent？〃

Raff　shook　his　head　sadly。

〃Think！〃　implored　the　doctor。　　Surely　the　memory　so　lately　awakened　through　his　aid　could　not　refuse　to　serve　him　in　a　moment　like　this。

〃It　is　all　gone；　mynheer；〃　sighed　Raff。

Hans；　forgetting　distinctions　of　rank　and　station；　forgetting　everything　but　that　his　good　friend　was　in　trouble；　threw　his　arms　around　the　doctor's　neck。

〃I　can　find　your　son；　mynheer。　　If　alive；　he　is　SOMEWHERE。　　The　earth　is　not　so　very　large。　　I　will　devote　every　day　of　my　life　to　the　search。　　Mother　can　spare　me　now。　　You　are　rich；　mynheer。　　Send　me　where　you　will。〃

Gretel　began　to　cry。　　It　was　right　for　Hans　to　go；　but　how　could　they　ever　live　without　him？〃

Dr。　Boekman　made　no　reply；　neither　did　he　push　Hans　away。　　His　eyes　were　fixed　anxiously　upon　Raff　Brinker。　　Suddenly　he　lifted　the　watch　and；　with　trembling　eagerness；　attempted　to　open　it。　　Its　stiffened　spring　yielded　at　last；　the　case　flew　open；　disclosing　a　watch　paper　in　the　back　bearing　a　group　of　blue　forget…me…nots。　　Raff；　seeing　a　shade　of　intense　disappointment　p