e shoemaker. "Who would
dream that there would be such a thaw right on top of such an
unreasonable snow-storm--and in March, too!"

Then he noticed that he had lost his cap, so we dug in the snow again,
searching for it, and had lots of fun before we finally found it.

All this excitement over the snowslide made us crazy for more fun, and
we decided that we would go to Madam Graaberg and ask her if she had
white velvet to sell. Madam Graaberg has a little shop in a basement and
sells almost nothing but _lu-de-fisk_ (fish soaked in lye, with a rank
odor).

First we peeped in the window between the glasses of groats. Yes, there
were many people in the shop and Madam Graaberg stood behind the counter
as usual. She is as big as three ordinary women and her eyes are as
black as two bits of coal; and my! how they can flash!

We plumped ourselves down into the shop, all four of us. It smelled
frightfully of _lu-de-fisk_ and the whole floor was like a puddle from
all the wet feet. A fine place to go to ask for white velvet! And Madam
Graaberg has an awful temper, let me tell you!

There were many customers to be waited on before us, so we stood
together in a bunch at the farthest end of the counter. The time dragged
on and on before they had all got their _lu-de-fisk_, for that was what
they wanted, the whole swarm of them.

On the counter beside me, there was a big new ball of string in an iron
frame, the kind that whirls around when you pull the string. The end of
the string dangled so invitingly close to me, and waiting for Madam
Graaberg to be ready to attend to us was so tedious, that I busied
myself with taking the end of the string and slyly tying it fast to one
of the buttons on the back of Munda's coat. Of course I meant to untie
the string before we went out, but Madam Graaberg turned suddenly to us.

"What do you want, children?" asked she, portly and dignified, towering
over the counter.

We were all a little bewildered because she had come to us so abruptly,
but we pushed Munda forward. My, how uncomfortable she looked!

"Have you any white velvet for sale?" asked Munda feebly.

I gave a spring towards the door, for it seemed best to get away at
once. Two maids stood there, who roared with laughter. "Ha ha! Ha ha!
Madam Graaberg, that's pretty good. Ha ha!"

"White velvet," hissed Madam Graaberg. "White velvet! Make a fool of me
in my own lawful business, will you? Out of my shop this instant!"

She d