"Ach, my soul!" he exclaimed: "it is the little one. Good morning! good morning!" And he stooped over and kissed Nelly's forehead.
"This is my brother, sir," said Nelly. "We are all done our work, and have come to see you make the assay. You said you would show us."
"Ach! ach!" cried the old gentleman; and he looked very sorry. "It is one tousand of pities: it cannot be that I show you to-day. My chimney he did do smoke; and a man will come now this hour to take out my furnace the flue. It must be made new. Not for some day I make the assay more."
Nelly and Rob looked straight in his face without speaking: they were too disappointed to say one word. Kind old Mr. Kleesman was very sorry for them.
"You shall again come: I will show the very first day," he said.
"Thank you, sir," said Nelly. "We always come into town Tuesdays and Fridays. We can come to your house any time." And she took hold of Rob's hand, and began to go down the steps.
"Vait! vait!" exclaimed Mr. Kleesman: "come in, and I show you some picture. You will not have seen picture of Malacca. I did live many years in Malacca."
Rob bounded at these words. His whole face lighted up.
"Oh, thank you! thank you!" he said: "that is what I like best in all the world."
"Vat is dat you like best in all the world: Malacca?" said the old gentleman. "And vy like you Malacca?"