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！
〃So； Mistress Gretel！ Here you are at last！〃
Before Raff awoke that evening； the fairy godmother； as we know； had been in the cottage； the guilders were once more safely locked in the big chest； and Dame Brinker and the children were faring sumptuously on meat and white bread and wine。
So the mother； in the joy of her heart； told them the story of the watch as far as she deemed it prudent to divulge it。 It was no more than fair； she thought； that the poor things should know after keeping the secret so safe ever since they had been old enough to know anything。
A Discovery
The next sun brought a busy day to the Brinkers。 In the first place the news of the thousand guilders had； of course； to be told to the father。 Such tidings as that surely could not harm him。 Then while Gretel was diligently obeying her mother's injunction to 〃clean the place fresh as a new brewing；〃 Hans and the dame sallied forth to revel in the purchasing of peat and provisions。
Hans was careless and contented； the dame was filled with delightful anxieties caused by the unreasonable demands of ten thousand guilders' worth of new wants that had sprung up like mushrooms in a single night。 The happy woman talked so largely to Hans on their way to Amsterdam and brought back such little bundles after all that he scratched his bewildered head as he leaned against the chimney piece； wondering whether 〃Bigger the pouch； tighter the string〃 was in Jacob Cats； and therefore true； or whether he had dreamed it when he lay in a fever。
〃What thinking on； Big…eyes？〃 chirruped his mother； half reading his thoughts as she bustled about； preparing the dinner。 〃What thinking on？ Why； Raff； would ye believe it； the child thought to carry half Amsterdam back on his head。 Bless us！ He would have bought us as much coffee as would have filled this fire pot。 'No； no； my lad；' says I。 'No time for leaks when the ship is rich laden。' And then how he staredayejust as he stares this minute。 Hoot； lad； fly around a mite。 Ye'll grow to the chimney place with your staring and wondering。 Now； Raff； here's your chair at the head of the table； where it should be； for there's a man to the house nowI'd say it to the king's face。 Aye； that's the waylean on Hans。 There's a strong staff for you！ Growing like a weed； too； and it seems only yesterday since he was toddling。 Sit by； my man； sit by。〃
〃Can you call to mind； vrouw； 〃said Raff； settling himself cautiously in the big chair； 〃the wonderful music box that cheered your working in the big house at Heidelberg？〃
〃Aye； that I can；〃 answered the dame。 〃Three turns of a brass key and the witchy thing would send the music fairly running up and down one's back。 I remember it well。 But； Raff〃growing solemn in an instant〃you would never throw our guilders away for a thing like that？〃
〃No； no； not I； vrouw； for the good Lord has already given me a music box without pay。〃
All three cast quick； frightened glances at one another and at Raff。 Were his wits on the wing again？
〃Aye； and a music box that fifty pouchful would not buy from me；〃 insisted Raff。 〃And it's set going by the turn of a mop handle； and it slips and glides around the room； everywhere in a flash； carrying the music about till you'd swear the birds were back again。〃
〃Holy Saint Bavon！〃 screeched the dame。 〃What's in the man？〃
〃Comfort and joy； vrouw； that's what's in him！ Ask Gretel； ask my little music box Gretel if your man has lacked comfort and joy this day。〃
〃Not he； Mother；〃 laughed Gretel。 〃He's been MY music box； too。 We sang together half the time you were gone。〃
〃Aye； so；〃 said the dame； greatly relieved。 〃Now； Hans； you'll never get through with a piece like that； but never mind； chick； thou'st had a long fasting。 Here； Gretel； take another slice of the sausage。 It'll put blood in your cheeks。〃
〃Oh！ Oh； Mother；〃 laughed Gretel； eagerly holding forth her platter。 〃Blood doesn't grow in girls' cheeksyou mean roses。 Isn't it roses； Hans？〃
While Hans was hastily swallowing a mammoth mouthful in order to give a suitable reply to this poetic appeal； Dame Brinker settled the matter with a quick； 〃Well； roses or blood； it's all one to me； so the red finds its way on your sunny face。 It's enough for mother to get pale and weary…looking without〃
〃Hoot； vrouw；〃 spoke up Raff hastily； 〃thou'rt fresher and rosier this minute than both our chicks put together。〃
This remark； though not bearing very strong testimony to the clearness of Raff's newly awakened intellect； nevertheless afforded the dame immense satisfaction。 The meal accordingly went on in the most delightful manner。
After dinner the affair of the watch was talked over and the mysterious initials duly discussed。
Hans had just pushed back his stool； intending to start at once for Mynheer van Holp's； and his mother had risen to put the watch away in its old hiding place； when they heard the sound of wheels upon the frozen ground。
Someone knocked at the door； opening it at the same time。
〃Come in；〃 stammered Dame Brinker； hastily trying to hide the watch in her bosom。 〃Oh； is it you； mynheer！ Good day！ The father is nearly well； as you see。 It's a poor place to greet you in； mynheer； and the dinner not cleared away。〃
Dr。 Boekman scarcely noticed the dame's apology。 He was evidently in haste。
〃Ahem！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Not needed here； I perceive。 The patient is mending fast。〃
〃Well he may； mynheer；〃 cried the dame； 〃for only last night we found a thousand guilders that's been lost to us these ten years。〃
Dr。 Boekman opened his eyes。
〃Yes； mynheer；〃 said Raff。 〃I bid the vrouw tell you； though it's to be held a secret among us； for I see you can keep your lips closed as well as any man。〃
The doctor scowled。 He never liked personal remarks。
〃Now； mynheer；〃 continued Raff； 〃you can take your rightful pay。 God knows you have earned it； if bringing such a poor tool back to the world and his family can be called a service。 Tell the vrouw what's to pay； mynheer。 She will hand out the sum right willingly。〃
〃Tut； tut！〃 said the doctor kindly。 〃Say nothing about money。 I can find plenty of such pay any time； but gratitude comes seldom。 That boy's thank…you；〃 he added； nodding sidewise toward Hans； was pay enough for me。〃
〃Like enough ye have a boy of your own；〃 said Dame Brinker； quite delighted to see the great man becoming so sociable。
Dr。 Boekman's good nature vanished at once。 He gave a growl （at least； it seemed so to Gretel）； but made no actual reply。
〃Do not think the vrouw meddlesome； mynheer；〃 said Raff。 〃She has been sore touched of late about a lad whose folks have gone awaynone knows whereand I had a message for them from the young gentleman。〃
〃The name was Boomphoffen；〃 said the dame eagerly。 〃Do you know aught of the family； mynheer？〃
The doctor's reply was brief and gruff。
〃Yes。 A troublesome set。 They went long since to America。〃
〃It might be； Raff；〃 persisted Dame Brinker timidly； 〃that the meester knows somebody in that country； though I'm told they are mostly savages over there。 If he could get the watch to the Boomphoffens with the poor lad's message； it would be a most blessed thing。〃
〃Tut； vrouw； why pester the good meester； and dying men and women wanting him everywhere？ How do ye know ye have the true name？〃
〃I'm sure of it；〃 she replied。 〃They had a son Lambert； and there's an L for Lambert and a B for Boomphoffen； on the back； though； to be sure； there's an odd J； too； but the meester can look for himself。〃
So saying； she drew forth the watch。
〃L。J。B。！〃 cried Dr。 Boekman； springing toward her。
Why attempt to describe the scene that followed？ I need only say that the lad's message was delivered to his father at last； delivered while the great surgeon was sobbing like a little child。
〃Laurens！ My Laurens！〃 he cried； gazing with yearning eyes at the watch as he held it tenderly in his palm。 〃Ah； if I had but known sooner！ Laurens a homeless wanderergreat heaven！ He may be suffering； dying at this moment！ Think； man； where is he？ Where did my boy say that the letter must be sent？〃
Raff shook his head sadly。
〃Think！〃 implored the doctor。 Surely the memory so lately awakened through his aid could not refuse to serve him in a moment like this。
〃It is all gone； mynheer；〃 sighed Raff。
Hans； forgetting distinctions of rank and station； forgetting everything but that his good friend was in trouble； threw his arms around the doctor's neck。
〃I can find your son； mynheer。 If alive； he is SOMEWHERE。 The earth is not so very large。 I will devote every day of my life to the search。 Mother can spare me now。 You are rich； mynheer。 Send me where you will。〃
Gretel began to cry。 It was right for Hans to go； but how could they ever live without him？〃
Dr。 Boekman made no reply； neither did he push Hans away。 His eyes were fixed anxiously upon Raff Brinker。 Suddenly he lifted the watch and； with trembling eagerness； attempted to open it。 Its stiffened spring yielded at last； the case flew open； disclosing a watch paper in the back bearing a group of blue forget…me…nots。 Raff； seeing a shade of intense disappointment p