But Grettel threw her hands up and permitted her head to wilt over on one side. "There! We might just as well be going," she said. "Hansel never has a decent word to say. When he's hungry he growls; and when he's eaten he nods. For my part, it would be a relief to see him nod awhile. Come, let's be getting along!"
CHAPTER V
A DASHING YOUTH IN THE FOREST
And so they set forth along the road. They had not gone far, however, when they espied a youth crossing the road before them.
It could be seen at once that he was on a very important mission, and Everychild said to his companions, "Perhaps we ought not to disturb him. Let us wait, and it may be that he will cross the road and go on his way."
But the youth did not do this. He had heard the children approaching, and he remained standing in the road, waiting for them to come up.
Grettel was already looking at the youth out of the corner of her eye and smiling.
"I'm going to speak to him," declared Hansel.
"Hansel!" exclaimed Grettel; "we mustn't disturb him!" And she glanced at Everychild for approval—though she hastily turned again so that she was observing the strange youth out of the comer of her eye, and she smiled more invitingly than ever.