"Hans," answered Gretel, in the same breath. Hilda smiled. "I cannot buy you each a pair of skates, or even one good pair; but here are eight kwartjes. Decide between you which stands the best chance of winning the race, and buy the skates accordingly. I wish I had enough to buy better ones--good-bye!" and, with a nod and a smile, Hilda, after handing the money to the electrified Hans, glided swiftly away to rejoin her companions. "Jufvrouw! jufvrouw von Gleck!" called Hans in a loud tone, stumbling after her as well as he could, for one of his skate-strings was untied. Hilda turned, and with one hand raised to shield her eyes from the sun, seemed to him to be floating through the air, nearer and nearer. "We cannot take this money," panted Hans, "though we know your goodness in giving it." "Why not indeed?" asked Hilda flushing. "Because," replied Hans, bowing like a clown, but looking with the eye of a prince at the queenly girl, "we have not earned it." Hilda was quick-witted. She had noticed a pretty wooden chain upon Gretel's neck. "Carve me a chain, Hans, like the one your sister wears." "That I will, lady, with all my heart; we have white wood in the house, fine as ivory; you shall have one to-morrow," and Hans hastily tried to return the money. "No, no," said Hilda decidedly. "That sum will be but a poor price for the chain," and off she darted, out-stripping the fleetest among the skaters. Hans sent a long, bewildered gaze after her; it was useless he felt to make any further resistance. "It is right," he muttered, half to himself, half to his faithful shadow, Gretel, "I must work hard every minute, and sit up half the night if the mother will let me burn a candle; but the chain shall be finished. We may keep the money, Gretel." "What a good little lady!" cried Gretel clapping her hands with delight, "oh! Hans, was it for nothing the stork settled on our roof last summer? Do you remember how the mother said it would bring us luck and how she cried when Janzoon Kolp shot him? And she said it would bring him trouble. But the luck has come to us at last! Now, Hans, if mother sends us to town to-morrow you can buy the skates in the market-place." Hans shook his head. "The young lady would have given us the money to buy skates, but if I _earn_ it, Gretel, it shall be spent for wool. You must have a warm jacket." "Oh!" cried Gretel, in real dismay, "not buy the skates! Why, I am not often cold! Mother says the blood runs up and down in poor children's veins humming 'I must keep 'em warm! I must keep 'em warm.' "Oh, Hans," she continued with something like a sob, "don't say you won't buy the skates, it makes me feel just like crying--besides, I want to be cold--I mean I'm real, awful warm--so now!" Hans looked up hurriedly. He had a true Dutch horror of tears, or emotion of any kind, and, most of all, he dreaded to see his sister's blue eyes overflowing.