按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the project upon learning that it would take them out of their way。 Few boys as hungry as Ben was by this time would hesitate long between Rembrandt's home a mile off and tiffin close by。 Ben chose the latter。
After tiffin； they rested awhile； and then took another； which； for form's sake； they called dinner。 After dinner the boys sat warming themselves at the inn； all but Peter； who occupied the time in another fruitless search for Dr。 Boekman。
This over； the party once more prepared for skating。 They were thirteen miles from The Hague and not as fresh as when they had left Broek early on the previous day； but they were in good spirits and the ice was excellent。
The Palace in the Wood
As the boys skated onward； they saw a number of fine country seats； all decorated and surrounded according to the Dutchest of Dutch taste； but impressive to look upon； with their great； formal houses； elaborate gardens； square hedges； and wide ditchessome crossed by a bridge； having a gate in the middle to be carefully locked at night。 These ditches； everywhere traversing the landscape； had long ago lost their summer film and now shone under the sunlight like trailing ribbons of glass。
The boys traveled bravely； all the while performing the surprising feat of producing gingerbread from their pockets and causing it to vanish instantly。
Twelve miles were passed。 A few more long strokes would take them to The Hague； when Van Mounen proposed that they should vary their course by walking into the city through the Bosch。
〃Agreed！〃 cried one and alland their skates were off in a twinkling。
The Bosch is a grand park or wood； nearly two miles long； containing the celebrated House in the WoodHuis in't Boschsometimes used as a royal residence。
The building； though plain outside for a palace； is elegantly furnished within and finely frescoedthat is； the walls and ceiling are covered with groups and designs painted directly upon them while the plaster was fresh。 Some of the rooms are tapestried with Chinese silks； beautifully embroidered。 One contains a number of family portraits； among them a group of royal children who in time were orphaned by a certain ax； which figures very frequently in European history。 These children were painted many times by the Dutch artist Van Dyck； who was court painter to their father； Charles the First of England。 Beautiful children they were。 What a deal of trouble the English nation would have been spared had they been as perfect in heart and soul as they were in form！
The park surrounding the palace is charming； especially in summer； for flowers and birds make it bright as fairyland。 Long rows of magnificent oaks rear their proud heads； conscious that no profaning hand will ever bring them low。 In fact； the Wood has for ages been held as an almost sacred spot。 Children are never allowed to meddle with its smallest twig。 The ax of the woodman has never resounded there。 Even war and riot have passed it reverently； pausing for a moment in their devastating way。 Philip of Spain； while he ordered Dutchmen to be mowed down by hundreds； issued a mandate that not a bough of the beautiful Wood should be touched。 And once； when in a time of great necessity the State was about to sacrifice it to assist in filling a nearly exhausted treasury； the people rushed to the rescue； and nobly contributed the required amount rather than that the Bosch should fall。
What wonder； then； that the oaks have a grand； fearless air？ Birds from all Holland have told them how； elsewhere； trees are cropped and bobbed into shapebut THEY are untouched。 Year after year they expand in unclipped luxuriance and beauty； their wide…spreading foliage； alive with song； casts a cool shade over lawn and pathway or bows to its image in the sunny ponds。
Meanwhile； as if to reward the citizens for allowing her to have her way for once； Nature departs from the invariable level； wearing gracefully the ornaments that have been reverently bestowed upon her。 So the lawn slopes in a velvety green； the paths wind in and out； flower beds glow and send forth perfume； and ponds and sky look at each other in mutual admiration。
Even on that winter day the Bosch was beautiful。 Its trees were bare； but beneath them still lay the ponds； every ripple smoothed into glass。 The blue sky was bright overhead； and as it looked down through the thicket of boughs； it saw another blue sky； not nearly so bright； looking up from the dim thicket under the ice。
Never had the sunset appeared more beautiful to Peter than when he saw it exchanging farewell glances with the windows and shining roofs of the city before him。 Never had The Hague itself seemed more inviting。 He was no longer Peter van Holp； going to visit a great city； nor a fine young gentleman bent on sight…seeing； he was a knight； an adventurer； travel…soiled and weary； a Hop…o'…my…Thumb grown large； a Fortunatas approaching the enchanted castle where luxury and ease awaited him； for his own sister's house was not half a mile away。
〃At last； boys；〃 he cried in high glee； 〃we may hope for a royal resting placegood beds； warm rooms； and something fit to eat。 I never realized before what a luxury such things are。 Our lodgings at the Red Lion have made us appreciate our own homes。〃
The Merchant Prince and the Sister…Princess
Well might Peter feel that his sister's house was like an enchanted castle。 Large and elegant as it was； a spell of quiet hung over it。 The very lion crouching at its gate seemed to have been turned into stone through magic。 Within； it was guarded by genii； in the shape of red…faced servants； who sprang silently forth at the summons of bell or knocker。 There was a cat also； who appeared as knowing as any Puss…in…Boots； and a brass gnome in the hall whose business it was to stand with outstretched arms ready to receive sticks and umbrellas。 Safe within the walls bloomed a Garden of Delight； where the flowers firmly believed it was summer； and a sparkling fountain was laughing merrily to itself because Jack Frost could not find it。 There was a Sleeping Beauty； too； just at the time of the boys' arrival； but when Peter； like a true prince； flew lightly up the stairs and kissed her eyelids； the enchantment was broken。 The princess became his own good sister； and the fairy castle just one of the finest； most comfortable houses of The Hague。
As may well be believed； the boys received the heartiest of welcomes。 After they had conversed awhile with their lively hostess； one of the genii summoned them to a grand repast in a red…curtained room； where floor and ceiling shone like polished ivory； and the mirrors suddenly blossomed into rosy…cheeked boys as far as the eye could reach。
They had caviar now； and salmagundi； and sausage and cheese； besides salad and fruit and biscuit and cake。 How the boys could partake of such a medley was a mystery to Ben； for the salad was sour； and the cake was sweet； the fruit was dainty； and the salmagundi heavy with onions and fish。 But； while he was wondering； he made a hearty meal； and was soon absorbed in deciding which he really preferred； the coffee or the anisette cordial。 It was delightful toothis taking one's food from dishes of frosted silver and liqueur glasses from which Titania herself might have sipped。 The young gentleman afterward wrote to his mother that； pretty and choice as things were at home； he had never known what cut glass； china； and silver services were until he visited The Hague。
Of course； Peter's sister soon heard all of the boys' adventures。 How they had skated over forty miles and seen rare sights on the way； how they had lost their purse and found it again。 How one of the party had fallen and given them an excuse for a grand sail in an ice boat； how； above all； they had caught a robber and so； for a second time； saved their slippery purse。
〃And now； Peter；〃 said the lady when the story was finished； 〃you must write at once to tell the good people of Broek that your adventures have reached their height； that you and your fellow travelers have all been taken prisoners。〃
The boys looked startled。
〃Indeed； I shall do no such thing；〃 laughed Peter。 〃We must leave tomorrow at noon。〃
But the sister had already decided differently； and a Holland lady is not to be easily turned from her purpose。 In short； she held forth such strong temptations and was so bright and cheerful and said so many coaxing and unanswerable things； both in English and Dutch； that the boys were all delighted when it was settled that they should remain at The Hague for at least two days。
Next the grand skating race was talked over； Mevrouw van Gend gladly promised to be present on the occasion。 〃I shall witness your triumph； Peter；〃 she said； 〃for you are the fastest skater I ever knew。〃
Peter blushed and gave a slight cough as Carl answered for him。
〃Ah； mevrouw； he is swift； but all the Broek boys are fine skaterseven the rag pickers；〃 and he thought bitterly of poor Hans。
The lady laughed。 〃That will make the race all the more exciting；〃 she said。 〃But I shall wish each of you to be the winner。〃
At this moment her husband Mynheer van Gend came in； and the enchant