or, The Silver Skates 219

bright and cheerful, and said so many coaxing and unanswer-
able things, both in English and Dutch, that the boys were all
delighted when it was settled that they should remain at the
Hague for at least two days.

Next the grand skating-race was talked over. Mevrouw
van Gend gladly promised to be present on the occasion. “I
shall witness your triumph, Peter,” she said; “for you are
the fastest skater I ever knew.”

Peter blushed, and gave a slight cough, as Carl answered
for him.

“ Ah, mevrouw, he is swift: but all the Broek boys are fine
skaters, even the rag-pickers;”’ and he thought bitterly of
poor Hans.

The lady laughed. That will make the race all the more
exciting,” she said. ‘¢ But I shall wish each of you to be the
winner.”

At this moment her husband, Mynheer van Gend, came in;
and the enchantment falling upon the boys was complete.

The invisible fairies of the household at once clustered
about them, whispering that Jasper van Gend had a heart as
young and fresh as their own; and, if he loved anything in
this world more than industry, it was sunshine and frolic.
They hinted, also, something about his having a heart full of
love, and a head full of wisdom, and finally gave the boys to
understand, that, when mynheer said a thing, he meant it.

Therefore his frank “Well now, this is pleasant,’ as he
shook hands with them all, made the boys feel quite at home,
and as happy as squirrels.

‘There were fine paintings in the drawing-room, and exquisite
statuary, and portfolios filled with rare Dutch engravings,
besides many beautiful and curious things from China and