or, The Silver Skates 371

against the fireplace, laughing merrily; and Raff Brinker was
dancing !

I do not mean that he was pirouetting, or cutting a pigeon-
wing, either of which would have been entirely too undignified
for the father of a family: I simply affirm that, while they
were chatting pleasantly together, Raff suddenly sprang from
his seat, snapped his fingers, and performed two or three
flourishes very much like the climax of a Highland fling.
Next he caught his vroww in his arms, and fairly lifted her
from the ground in his delight.

“ Huzza!” he cried. “I have it! I have it! It’s THomas
Hiccs. That’s the name! It came upon me like a flash.
Write it down, lad; write it down!”

Some one knocked at the door.

“It is the meester,” cried the delighted dame. “ Guede
Gunst, how things come to pass!”

Mother and children came in merry collision as they rushed
to open the door.

It was not the doctor, after all, but three boys, — Peter van
Holp, Lambert and Ben. ,

“ Good-evening, young gentlemen!” said Dame Brinker,
so happy and proud that she would scarce have been surprised
at a visit from the king himself.

“* Good-evening, jufvrouw !” said the trio, making magnifi-
cent bows.

“Dear me!” thought Dame Brinker as she bobbed up and
down like a churn-dasher: “it’s lucky I learned to courtesy
at Heidelberg!”

Raff was content to return the boys’ salutations with a
respectful nod.

“ Pray be seated, young masters,” said the dame, as Gretel