or, The Silver Skates a7

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“ Hans is a stout fellow,” said Hilda, cheerily, ‘and seems
to have a warm stove somewhere within him; but you look
cold. You should wear more clothing, little one.”

Gretel, who had nothing else to wear, tried to laugh, as she
answered, —

“ T am not so very little. I am past twelve years old.”

“Oh, I beg your pardon! ‘You see, I am nearly fourteen,
and so large of my age that other girls seem small to me; but
that is nothing. Perhaps you will shoot up far above me yet;
not unless you dress more warmly, though: shivering girls
never grow.”

Hans flushed as he saw tears rising in Gretel’s eyes.

“ My sister has not complained of the cold; but this is
bitter weather, they say ;” and he looked sadly upon Gretel.

“It is nothing,” said Gretel. ‘*] am often warm, too warm,

22

when I am skating. You are good, jufurouw,} to think of it.”

“No, no!” answered Hilda, quite angry at herself. “I am
careless, cruel; but I meant no harm. I wanted to ask you
—I mean—if—” And here Hilda, coming to the point of
her errand, faltered before the poorly clad but noble-looking
children she wished to serve.

“¢ What is it, young lady?” exclaimed Hans, eagerly. “If
there is any service I can do; any”? —

“Qh, no, no!” laughed Hilda, shaking off her embarrass-
ment. “I only wished to speak to you about the grand race.
Why do you not join it? You both can skate well; and the
ranks are free. Any one may enter for the prize.”

Gretel looked wistfully at Hans, who, tugging at his cap,
answered respectfully, —

1 Miss, young lady (pronounced yufrow). In studied or polite address,
it would be jugurowe (pronounced youngfrow).