B93 Hans Brinker

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bashfully thrust a stool toward them. “ There’s a lack of
chairs, as you see: but this one by the fire is at your service ;
and, if you don’t mind the hardness, that oak chest is as good
a seat as the best. — That’s right, Hans, pull it out.”

By the time the boys were seated to the dame’s satisfaction,
Peter, acting as spokesman, had explained that they were
going to attend a lecture at Amsterdam, and had stopped on
the way to return Hans’ strap.

“Oh, mynheer!.” cried Hans, earnestly. ‘¢It is too much
trouble. I am very sorry.”

“No trouble at all, Hans. I could have waited for you
to come to your work to-morrow, had I not wished to call.
And, Hans, talking of your work, my father is much pleased
with it. A carver by trade could not have done it better.
He would like to have the south arbor ornamented also; but
I told him you were going to school again.”

“Ay!” put in Raff Brinker, emphatically, “« Hans must go
to school at once, and Gretel as well: that is true.”

“‘T am glad to hear you say so,” responded Peter, turning
toward the father, “and very glad ta know that you are again
a well man.”

“Yes, young master, a well man, and able to work as
steady as ever, thank God!”

[Here Hans hastily wrote something on the edge of a
time-worn almanac that hung by the chimney-place.]

“Ay, that’s right, lad, set it down.  Figgs — Wiggs —
alack, alack!” added Raff, in great dismay, “it’s gone
again!”

“¢ All right, father,” said Hans, “the name’s down now in
black and white. Here, look at it, father: mayhap the rest
will come to you. If we had the place as well, it would be