hans brinker-第6节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


would　not　have　the　jacket；　she　should　have　the　skates。

〃No；　Gretel；〃　he　answered　at　last；　〃I　can　wait。　　Someday　I　may　have　money　enough　saved　to　buy　a　fine　pair。　　You　shall　have　these。〃

Gretel's　eyes　sparkled；　but　in　another　instant　she　insisted；　rather　faintly；　〃The　young　lady　gave　the　money　to　YOU；　Hans。　　I'd　be　real　bad　to　take　it。〃

Hans　shook　his　head　resolutely　as　he　trudged　on；　causing　his　sister　to　half　skip　and　half　walk　in　her　effort　to　keep　beside　him。　　By　this　time　they　had　taken　off　their　wooden　〃rockers〃　and　were　hastening　home　to　tell　their　mother　the　good　news。

〃Oh！　　I　know！〃　cried　Gretel　in　a　sprightly　tone。　　〃You　can　do　this。　　You　can　get　a　pair　a　little　too　small　for　you；　and　too　big　for　me；　and　we　can　take　turns　and　use　them。　　Won't　that　be　fine？〃　Gretel　clapped　her　hands　again。

Poor　Hans！　　This　was　a　strong　temptation；　but　he　pushed　it　away　from　him；　brave…hearted　fellow　that　he　was。

〃Nonsense；　Gretel。　　You　could　never　get　on　with　a　big　pair。　　You　stumbled　about　with　these；　like　a　blind　chicken；　before　I　curved　off　the　ends。　　No；　you　must　have　a　pair　to　fit　exactly；　and　you　must　practice　every　chance　you　can　get；　until　the　twentieth　comes。　　My　little　Gretel　shall　win　the　silver　skates。〃

Gretel　could　not　help　laughing　with　delight　at　the　very　idea。

〃Hans！　　Gretel！〃　called　out　a　familiar　voice。

〃Coming；　Mother！〃

They　hastened　toward　the　cottage；　Hans　still　shaking　the　pieces　of　silver　in　his　hand。

On　the　following　day　there　was　not　a　prouder　nor　a　happier　boy　in　all　Holland　than　Hans　Brinker　as　he　watched　his　sister；　with　many　a　dexterous　sweep；　flying　in　and　out　among　the　skaters　who　at　sundown　thronged　the　canal。　　A　warm　jacket　had　been　given　her　by　the　kind…hearted　Hilda；　and　the　burst…out　shoes　had　been　cobbled　into　decency　by　Dame　Brinker。　　As　the　little　creature　darted　backward　and　forward；　flushed　with　enjoyment　and　quite　unconscious　of　the　many　wondering　glances　bent　upon　her；　she　felt　that　the　shining　runners　beneath　her　feet　had　suddenly　turned　earth　into　fairyland　while　〃Hans；　dear；　good　Hans！〃　echoed　itself　over　and　over　again　in　her　grateful　heart。

〃By　den　donder！〃　exclaimed　Peter　van　Holp　to　Carl　Schummel；　〃but　that　little　one　in　the　red　jacket　and　patched　petticoat　skates　well。　　Gunst！　　She　has　toes　on　her　heels　and　eyes　in　the　back　of　her　head！　　See　her！　　It　will　be　a　joke　if　she　gets　in　the　race　and　beats　Katrinka　Flack；　after　all。〃

〃Hush！　not　so　loud！〃　returned　Carl；　rather　sneeringly。　　〃That　little　lady　in　rags　is　the　special　pet　of　Hilda　van　Gleck。　　Those　shining　skates　are　her　gift；　if　I　make　no　mistake。〃

〃So！　so！〃　exclaimed　Peter　with　a　radiant　smile；　for　Hilda　was　his　best　friend。　　〃She　has　been　at　her　good　work　there　too！〃　　And　Mynheer　van　Holp；　after　cutting　a　double　figure　eight　on　the　ice；　to　say　nothing　of　a　huge　P；　then　a　jump　and　an　H；　glided　onward　until　he　found　himself　beside　Hilda。

Hand　in　hand；　they　skated　together；　laughingly　at　first；　then　staidly　talking　in　a　low　tone。

Strange　to　say；　Peter　van　Holp　soon　arrived　at　a　sudden　conviction　that　his　little　sister　needed　a　wooden　chain　just　like　Hilda's。

Two　days　afterwards；　on　Saint　Nicholas's　Eve；　Hans；　having　burned　three　candle　ends　and　cut　his　thumb　into　the　bargain；　stood　in　the　marketplace　at　Amsterdam；　buying　another　pair　of　skates。




Shadows　in　the　Home



Good　Dame　Brinker！　　As　soon　as　the　scanty　dinner　had　been　cleared　away　that　noon；　she　had　arrayed　herself　in　her　holiday　attire　in　honor　of　Saint　Nicholas。　　It　will　brighten　the　children；　she　thought　to　herself；　and　she　was　not　mistaken。　　This　festival　dress　had　been　worn　very　seldom　during　the　past　ten　years；　before　that　time　it　had　done　good　service　and　had　flourished　at　many　a　dance　and　kermis；　when　she　was　known；　far　and　wide；　as　the　pretty　Meitje　Klenck。　　The　children　had　sometimes　been　granted　rare　glimpses　of　it　as　it　lay　in　state　in　the　old　oaken　chest。　　Faded　and　threadbare　as　it　was；　it　was　gorgeous　in　their　eyes；　with　its　white　linen　tucker；　now　gathered　to　her　plump　throat　and　vanishing　beneath　the　trim　bodice　of　blue　homespun；　and　its　reddish…brown　skirt　bordered　with　black。　　The　knitted　woolen　mitts　and　the　dainty　cap　showing　her　hair；　which　generally　was　hidden；　made　her　seem　almost　like　a　princess　to　Gretel；　while　Master　Hans　grew　staid　and　well…behaved　as　he　gazed。

Soon　the　little　maid；　while　braiding　her　own　golden　tresses；　fairly　danced　around　her　mother　in　an　ecstasy　of　admiration。

〃Oh；　Mother；　Mother；　Mother；　how　pretty　you　are！　　Look；　Hans！　　Isn't　it　just　like　a　picture？〃

〃Just　like　a　picture；〃　assented　Hans　cheerfully。　　〃JUST　like　a　pictureonly　I　don't　like　those　stocking　things　on　the　hands。〃

〃Not　like　the　mitts；　brother　Hans！　　Why；　they're　very　important。　　See；　they　cover　up　all　the　red。　　Oh；　Mother；　how　white　your　arm　is　where　the　mitt　leaves　off；　whiter　than　mine；　oh；　ever　so　much　whiter。　　I　declare；　Mother；　the　bodice　is　tight　for　you。　　You're　growing！　　You're　surely　growing！〃

Dame　Brinker　laughed。

〃This　was　made　long　ago；　lovey；　when　I　wasn't　much　thicker　about　the　waist　than　a　churn　dasher。　　And　how　do　you　like　the　cap？〃　she　asked；　turning　her　head　from　side　to　side。

〃Oh；　EVER　so　much；　Mother。　　It's　b…e…a…u…tiful！　　See；　the　father　is　looking！〃

Was　the　father　looking？　　Alas！　only　with　a　dull　stare。　　His　vrouw　turned　toward　him　with　a　start；　something　like　a　blush　rising　to　her　cheeks；　a　questioning　sparkle　in　her　eye。　　The　bright　look　died　away　in　an　instant。

〃No；　no。〃　　She　sighed。　　〃He　sees　nothing。　　Come；　Hans〃and　the　smile　crept　faintly　back　again〃don't　stand　gaping　at　me　all　day；　and　the　new　skates　waiting　for　you　at　Amsterdam。〃

〃Ah；　Mother；〃　he　answered；　〃you　need　so　many　things。　　Why　should　I　buy　skates？〃

〃Nonsense；　child。　　The　money　was　given　to　you　on　purpose；　or　the　work　wasit's　all　the　same　thing。　　Go　while　the　sun　is　high。〃

〃Yes；　and　hurry　back；　Hans！〃　laughed　Gretel。　　〃We'll　race　on　the　canal　tonight；　if　the　mother　lets　us。〃

At　the　very　threshold　he　turned　to　say；　〃Your　spinning　wheel　wants　a　new　treadle；　Mother。〃

〃You　can　make　it；　Hans。〃

〃So　I　can。　　That　will　take　no　money。　　But　you　need　feathers　and　wool　and　meal；　and〃

〃There；　there！　　That　will　do。　　Your　silver　cannot　buy　everything。　　Ah！　　Hans；　if　our　stolen　money　would　but　come　back　on　this　bright　Saint　Nicholas's　Eve；　how　glad　we　would　be！　　Only　last　night　I　prayed　to　the　good　saint〃

〃Mother！〃　interrupted　Hans　in　dismay。

〃Why　not；　Hans？　　Shame　on　you　to　reproach　me　for　that！　　I'm　as　true　a　Protestant；　in　sooth；　as　any　fine　lady　that　walks　into　church；　but　it's　no　wrong　to　turn　sometimes　to　the　good　Saint　Nicholas。　　Tut！　　It's　a　likely　story　if　one　can't　do　that；　without　one's　children　flaring　up　at　itand　he　the　boys'　and　girls'　own　saint。　　Hoot！　　Mayhap　the　colt　is　a　steadier　horse　than　the　mare？〃

Hans　knew　his　mother　too　well　to　offer　a　word　in　opposition　when　her　voice　quickened　and　sharpened　as　it　did　now　（it　was　often　sharp　and　quick　when　she　spoke　of　the　missing　money）；　so　he　said　gently；　〃And　what　did　you　ask　of　good　Saint　Nicholas；　Mother？〃

〃Why；　never　to　give　the　thieves　a　wink　of　sleep　till　they　brought　it　back；　to　be　sure；　if　he　has　the　power　to　do　such　things；　or　else　to　brighten　our　wits　that　we　might　find　it　ourselves。　　Not　a　sight　have　I　had　of　it　since　the　day　before　the　dear　father　was　hurtas　you　well　know；　Hans。〃

〃That　I　do；　Mother；〃　he　answered　sadly；　〃though　you　have　almost　pulled　down　the　cottage　in　searching。〃

〃Aye；　but　it　was　of　no　use；〃　moaned　the　dame。　　〃'HIDERS　make　best　finders。'〃

Hans　started。　　〃Do　you　think　the　father　could　tell　aught？〃

〃Aye；　indeed；〃　said　Dame　Brinker；　nodding　her　head。　　〃I　think　so；　but　that　is　no　sign。　　I　never　hold　the　same　belief　in　the　matter　two　days。　　Mayhap　the　father　paid　it　off　for　the　great　silver　watch　we　have　been　guarding　since　that　day。　　But；　noI'll　never　believe　it。〃

〃The　watch　was　not　worth　a　quarter　of　the　money；　Mother。〃

〃No；　indeed；　and　your　father　was　a　shrewd　man　up　to　the　last　moment。　　He　was　too　steady　and　thrifty　for　silly　doings。〃

〃Where　did　the　watch　come　from；　I　wonder；〃　muttered　Hans；　half　to　himself。

Dame　Brinker　shook　her　head　and　looked　sadly　toward　her　husband；　who　sat　staring　blankly　at　the　floor。　　Gretel　stood　near　him；　knitting。

〃That　we　shall　never　know；　Hans。　　I　have　shown　it　to　the　father　many　a　time；　but　he　does　not　know　it　from　a　potato。　　When　he　came　in　that　dreadful　night　to　supper；　he　handed　the　watch　to　me　and　told　me　to　take　good　care　of　it　until　he　asked　for　it　again。　　Just　as　he　opened　his　lips　to　say　more；　Broom　Klatterboost　came　flying　in　with　word　that　the　dike　was　in　danger。　　Ah！　　The　waters　were　terrible　that　Pinxter…week！　　My　man；　alack；　caught　up　his　tools　and　ran　out。　　That　was　the　last　I　ever　saw　of　him　in　his　right　mind。　　He　was　brought　in　again　by　midnight；　nearly　dead；　with　his　poor　head　all　bruised　and　cut。　　The　fever　passed　off　in　time；　but　never　the　dullnessTHAT　grew　worse　every　day。　　We　shall　never　know。〃

Hans　had　heard　all　this　before。　　More　than　once　he　had　seen　his　mother；　in　hours　of　sore　need；　take　the　watch　from　its　hiding　place；　half　resolved　to　sell　it；　but　she　had　always　conquered　the　temptation。

〃No；　Hans；〃　she　wou