342 Hans Brinker

Dr. Boekman opened his eyes.

“Yes, mynheer,” said Raff. “I bid the vrouw tell you,
though it ’s to be a secret among us; for I see you can keep
your lips closed as well as any man.”

The doctor scowled. He never liked personal remarks.

“Now, mynheer,” continued Raff, “you can take your
rightful pay. God knows you have earned it, if bringing such
a poor tool back to the world and his family can be called a
service. ell the vreww what’s to pay, mynheer: she will
hand out the sum right willingly.”

“Tut, tut! ”? said the doctor, kindly. “Say nothing about
money. I-can find plenty of such pay any time; but grati-
tude comes seldom. That boy’s ‘Thank you,’” he added,
nodding sidewise towards Hans, “was pay enough for me.”

“Like enough ye have a boy of your own,” said Dame
Brinker, quite delighted to see the great man becoming so
sociable.

Dr. Boekman’s good-nature vanished at once. He gave a
growl (at least it seemed so to Gretel), but made no actual
reply.

“ Do not think the vreww meddlesome, mynheer,” said Raff.
“She has been sore touched of late about a lad whose folks
have gone away, none know where; and I had a message for
them from the young gentleman.”

““The name was Boomphoffen,” said the dame, eagerly. |
“ Do you know aught of the family, mynheer ?”

The doctor’s reply was brief and gruff.

“Yes. A troublesome set. They went, long since, to
America.”

“Tt might be, Raff,” persisted Dame Brinker, timidly, “ that
the meester knows somebody in that country ; though I’m told