340 Hans Brinker

“Can you call to mind, vrouw,” said Raff, settling himself
cautiously in the big chair, “the wonderful music-box that
cheered your working in the big house at Heidelberg ?”

“¢ Ay, that I can!” answered the dame. “ Three turns of
a brass key, and the witchy thing would send the music fairly
running up and down one’s back: I remember it well. But,
Raff,” (growing solemn in an instant), “you would never
throw our guilders away for a thing like that?”

“No, no! not I, vrouw; for the good Lord has already
given me a music-box without pay.”

All three cast quick, frightened glances at one another and
at Raff. Were his wits on the wing again?

“© Ay, and a music-box that fifty pouchful would not buy
from me,” insisted Raff, “ And it’s set going by the turn of
a mop-handle; and it slips and glides around the room, every-
where in a flash, carrying the music about, till you’d swear
the birds were back again.”

“ Holy St. Bavon!” screeched the dame: “ what ’s in the
man?”

‘Comfort and joy, vrouw: that’s what’s in him! Ask
Gretel, ask my little music-box Gretel, if your man has lacked
comfort and joy this day.”

“Not he, mother,” laughed Gretel. ‘“ He ’s been my music-
box too. We sang together half the time you were gone.”

“Ay, so!” said the dame, greatly relieved. ‘Now, Hans,
youll never get through with a piece like that; but never
mind, chick, thou ’st had a long fasting. — Here, Gretel, take
another slice of the sausage: it ’ll put blood in your cheeks.”

“Oh, oh, mother!” laughed Gretel, eagerly holding forth
her platter. ‘‘ Blood don’t grow in ‘girls’ cheeks: you mean
roses. — Isn’t, it roses, Hans?”