or, The Silver Skates 41

Hilda turned, and, with one hand raised to shield her eyes
from the sun, seemed to him to be floating through the air,
nearer and nearer.

“© We cannot take this money,” panted Hans, “though we
know your goodness in giving it.”

“© Why not, indeed?” asked Hilda, flushing.

“« Because,” replied Hans, bowing like a clown, but looking
with the eye of a prince at the queenly girl, “we have not
earned it.”

Hilda was quick-witted. She had noticed a pretty wooden
chain upon Gretel’s neck.

“© Carve me a chain, Hans, like the one your sister wears.”

« That I will, lady, with all my heart. We have whitewood
in the house, fine as ivory. You shall have one to-morrow ; ”
and Hans hastily tried to return the money.

“ No, no!” said Hilda, decidedly. “ That sum will be but a
poor price for the chain ;” and off she darted, outstripping the
fleetest among the skaters.

Hans sent a long, bewildered gaze after her. It was useless,
he felt, to make any further resistance.

“ Tt is right,” he muttered, half to himself, half to his faith-
ful shadow, Gretel. “ I must work hard every minute, and sit
up half the night, if the mother will let me burn a candle; but
the chain shall be finished. We may keep the money,
Gretel.”

“ What a good young lady!” cried Gretel, clapping her
hands with delight. “O Hans! was it for nothing the stork
settled on our roof last summer? Do you remember how the
mother said it would bring us luck, and how she cried when
Janzoon Kolp shot him? And she said it would bring him
trouble. But the luck has come to us, at last. Now, Hans,