or, The Silver Skates 373

complete.” Then, turning to Peter, he said in a low tone,
‘© ] have an important errand in town, mynheer; and if—”

“© Wist!”’ exclaimed the dame, lifting her hands, — “ not
to Amsterdam to-night, and you’ve owned your legs were
aching under you. Nay, nay, it “ll be soon enough to go at
early daylight.”

“ Daylight, indeed!” echoed Raff. “That would never
do. Nay, Meitje, he must go this hour.”

The vrouw looked for an instant as if Raff’s recovery was
‘becoming rather a doubtful benefit: her word was no longer
sole law in the’ house. Fortunately the proverb, “ Humble
wife is husband’s boss,” had taken deep root in her mind:
even as the dame pondered, it bloomed.

“¢ Very well, Raff,” she said smilingly, “it is thy boy as well
as mine. Ah! I’ve a troublesome house, young masters.”

Just then Peter drew a long strap from his pocket.

Handing it to Hans, he said in an undertone, “I need not
thank you for lending me this, Hans Brinker. Such boys as
you do not ask for thanks; but I must say you did me a great
kindness, and I am proud to acknowledge it. I did not know,”
he added laughingly, “until fairly in the race, how anxious I
was to win.”

Hans was glad to join in Peter’s laugh: it covered his
embarrassment, and gave his face a chance to cool off a little.
Honest, generous boys like Hans have such a stupid way of
blushing when you least expect it.
said the dame, hastening to

>

“Tt was nothing, mynheer,’
her son’s relief. ‘The lad’s whole soul was in having you
win the race: I know it was.”

This helped matters beautifully.

“ Ah, mynheer!” Hans hurried to say, “from the first