or, The Silver Skates 303

Hans looked up anxiously, dreading lest his mother should
grow agitated, as usual, when speaking of the lost money; but
she was silently nibbling her bread, and looking with a doleful
stare toward the window.

“Thousand guilders

{»

echoed a faint voice from the bed.
“© Ah, Iam sure they have been of good use to you, vreuw,
through the long years while your man was idle.”

The poor woman started up. These words quite destroyed
the hope that of late had been glowing within her.

“¢ Are you awake, Raff?” she faltered.

“ Yes, Meitje; and I feel much better. Our money was
well saved, vrouw, I was saying. Did it last through all these
ten years?” .

«“«[—_J]—have not got it, Raff, I—” She was going to
tell him the whole truth, when Hans lifted his finger warn-
ingly, and whispered, —

“Remember what the meester told us: the father must not
be worried.”

“ Speak to him, child,” she answered, trembling.

Hans hurried to the bedside.

“Tam glad you are feeling better,” he said, leaning over
his father. ‘ Another day will see you quite strong again.”

“ Ay, like enough. How long did the money last, Hans?
I could not hear your mother. What did she say?”

“¢ T said, Raff,’ stammered Dame Brinker in great distress,
“that it was all gone.”

“Well, well, wife, do not fret at that: one thousand
guilders is not so very much for ten years, and with children
to bring up; but it has helped to make you -all comfortable.
Have you had much sickness to bear ?”

«« N—no,” sobbed the dame, lifting her apron to her eyes.