or, The Silver Skates 341

While Hans was hastily swallowing a mammoth mouthful,
in order to give a suitable reply to this poetic appeal, Dame
Brinker settled the matter with a quick, —.

“‘ Well, roses or blood, it’s all one to me, so the red finds
its way to your sunny face. It’s enough for mother to get
pale and weary-looking, without — ”

“‘ Hoot, vrouw !” spoke up Raff, hastily. “ Thou ’rt fresher
and rosier this minute than both our chicks put together.”

This remark, though not bearing very strong testimony to
the clearness of Raff’s newly awakened intellect, nevertheless
afforded the dame intense satisfaction ; the meal, accordingly,
passed off in the most delightful manner.

After dinner, the affair of the watch was talked over, and
the mysterious initials duly discussed.

Hans had just pushed back his stool, intending to start at
once for Mynheer van Holp’s, and his mother had risen to
put the watch away in its old hiding-place, when they heard
the sound of wheels upon the frozen ground. Some one
knocked at the door, opening it at the same time.

“Come in!” stammered Dame Brinker, hastily trying to
hide the watch in her bosom. “Oh! is it you, mynheer?
Good-day! The father is nearly well, as you see. It’s a
poor place to greet you in, mynheer, and the dinner not
cleared away.”

Dr. Boekman scarcely noticed the dame’s apology. He
was evidently in haste.

“Ahem!” he exclaimed ; “not needed here, I perceive.
The patient is mending fast.”
cried the dame; “for only last

>

“Well he may, mynheer,’
night we found a thousand guilders that ’s been lost to us these
ten years.”