As Hans was not there, Voost could afford to scout the insinuation.
"Who cares for him, little sneezer? I'd fight a dozen like him any day, and you in the bargain."
"You would! would you? I'd like to catch you at it," and, by way of proving his words, the sneezer skated off at the top of his speed.
Just then a general chase after three of the biggest boys of the school was proposed,—and friend and foe, frolicsome as ever, were soon united in a common cause.
Only one of all that happy throng remembered the dark little form by the idiot's cottage. Poor, frightened Gretel! She was not thinking of them, though their merry laughter floated lightly toward her, making her feel like one in a dream.
How loud the moans were behind the darkened window—What if those strange men were really killing her father!
The thought made her spring to her feet with a cry of horror!
"Ah! no," she sobbed, sinking upon the frozen mound of earth where she had been sitting, "mother is there, and Hans. They will care for him. But how pale they were. And even Hans was crying!
"Why did the cross old meester keep him, and send me away," she thought. "I could have clung to the mother and kissed her. That always makes her stroke my hair and speak gentle, even after she has scolded me. How quiet it is now! Oh, if the father should die, and Hans, and the mother, what would I do?" and Gretel, shivering with cold, buried her face in her arms, and cried as if her heart would break.
The poor child had been tasked beyond her strength during the past four days. Through all, she had been her mother's willing little handmaiden, soothing, helping and cheering the half-widowed woman by day, and watching and praying beside her all the long night. She knew that something terrible and mysterious was taking place at this moment, something that had been too terrible and mysterious for even kind, good Hans to tell.