108 Hans Brinker

dows. Ben was half inclined to think that these personages
were automata, like the moving figures in the garden at Broek ;
for they both nodded their heads slowly, in precisely the same
way, and both went on with their employment as steadily and
stifly as though they worked by machinery. ‘The old man
puffed, puffed; and his vrevw clicked her knitting-needles, as
if regulated by internal cog-wheels. Even the real smoke
issuing from the motionless pipe gave no convincing proof
that they were human.

But the rosy-cheeked maiden! Ah, how she bustled about !
How she gave the boys polished, high-backed chairs to sit
upon! How she made the fire blaze up as if it were inspired !
How she made Jacob Poot almost weep for joy by bringing
forth a great square of gingerbread, and a stone jug of sour
wine! How she laughed and nodded as the boys ate like
wild animals on good behavior! and how blank she looked
when Ben politely but firmly refused to take any black-bread
and sour-krout! How she pulled off Jacob’s mitten, which
was torn at the thumb, and mended it before his eyes, biting
off the thread with her white teeth, and saying, “ Now it will
> as she bit! and, finally, how she shook hands
with every boy in turn, and, throwing a deprecating glance at
the female automaton, insisted upon filling their pockets with
gingerbread |

be warmer,’

All this time the knitting-needles clicked on, and the pipe
never missed a puff.

When the boys were fairly on their way again, they came in
sight of Zwanenburg Castle, with its massive stone front, and
its gateway towers, each surmounted with a sculptured swan.

“* Halfweg,' boys,” said Peter, “¢ off with your skates ! ”

1 Half-way.