38 Hans Brinker

“ Ah, jufvrouw, even if we could enter, we could skate only
a few strokes with the rest. Our skates are hard wood, you
see” (holding up the sole of his foot); ‘¢ but they soon become
damp, and then they stick, and trip us.”

Gretel’s eyes twinkled with fun as she thought of Hans’ mishap
in the morning ; but she blushed as she faltered out timidly, —

“ Oh, no! we can’t join; but may we be there, my lady,
on the great day, to look on?”

“ Certainly,” answered Hilda, locking kindly into the two
earnest faces, and wishing from her heart that she had not
spent so much of her monthly allowance for lace and finery.
She had but eight éwartjes! left; and they would buy but one
pair of skates, at the furthest.

Looking down with a sigh at the two pairs of feet so very
different in size, she asked, —

“ Which of you is the better skater? ”

“ Gretel,” replied Hans, promptly.

« Hans,” answered Gretel, in the same breath.

Hilda smiled.

“© cannot buy you each a pair of skates, or even one good
pair; but here are eight fwartjes. Decide between you which
stands the best chance of winning the race and buy the skates
accordingly. I wish I had enough to buy better ones. Good-
by!” And, with a nod and a smile, Hilda, after handing the
money to the electrified Hans, glided swiftly away to rejoin
her companions.

“¢ Jufvrouw, jufvrouw van Gleck !” called Hans, in a loud
tone, stumbling after her as well as he could; for one of his
skate-strings was untied.

1 A kwartje is a small silver coin worth one-quarter of a guilder, or ten
cents in American currency.