"Dear me!" thought Dame Brinker as she bobbed up and down like a churn dasher, "it's lucky I learned to curtsey at Heidelberg!"
Raff was content to return the boys' salutations with a respectful nod.
"Pray be seated, young masters," said the dame, as Gretel bashfully thrust a stool toward them. "There's a lack of chairs as you see, but this one by the fire is at your service, and if you don't mind the hardness, that oak-chest is as good a seat as the best. That's right, Hans, pull it out."
By the time the boys were seated to the dame's satisfaction, Peter, acting as spokesman, had explained that they were going to attend a lecture at Amsterdam, and had stopped on the way to return Hans' strap.
"Oh, mynheer," cried Hans earnestly, "it is too much trouble. I am very sorry."
"No trouble at all, Hans. I could have waited for you to come to your work to-morrow, had I not wished to call. And, Hans, talking of your work, my father is much pleased with it; a carver by trade could not have done it better. He would like to have the south arbor ornamented also, but I told him you were going to school again."
"Aye!" put in Raff Brinker, emphatically, "Hans must go to school at once—and Gretel as well—that is true."
"I am glad to hear you say so," responded Peter, turning toward the father, "and very glad to know that you are again a well man."
"Yes, young master, a well man, and able to work as steady as ever—thank God!"
[Here Hans hastily wrote something on the edge of a time-worn almanac that hung by the chimney-place.] "Aye, that's right, lad, set it down. Figgs! Wiggs! Alack! Alack!" added Raff in great dismay, "it's gone again!"