or, The Silver Skates 259

not feel ashamed to avow herself by word and deed the
companion of Gretel and Hans.

When the neighbors’ children laughed at her for keeping
such poor company, she would simply fush when Hans was
ridiculed, or laugh in a careless, disdainful way. But to hear
little Gretel abused always awakened her wrath.

“¢ Goose-girl, indeed!”’ she would say. ‘TI can tell you
any of you are fitter for the work than she. My father
often said, last summer, that it troubled him to see such a
bright-eyed, patient little maiden tending geese. Humph!
She would not harm them, as you would, Janzoon Kolp;
and she would not tread upon them, as you might, Kate
Wouters.”

This would be pretty sure to start a laugh at the clumsy,
ill-natured Kate’s expense; and Annie would walk loftily away
from the group of young gossips. Perhaps some memory of
Gretel’s assailants crossed her mind as she skated rapidly
toward Amsterdam; for her eyes sparkled ominously, and she
more than once gave her pretty head a defiant toss. When
that mood passed, such a bright, rosy, affectionate look illu-
mined her face, that more than one weary workingman turned
to gaze after her, and to wish that he had a glad, contented
lass like that for a daughter.

There were five joyous households in Broek that night.

The boys were back safe and sound; and they found all
well at home. Even the sick lady at neighbor Van Stoepel’s
was out of danger.

But the next morning. Ah, how stupidly school-bells will
ding-dong, ding-dong, when one is tired.

Ludwig was sure he had never listened to anything so