You
both can skate well, and the ranks are free. Anyone may enter for the
prize."

Gretel looked wistfully at Hans, who, tugging at his cap, answered
respectfully.

"Ah, jufvrouw, even if we could enter, we could skate only a few strokes
with the rest. Our skates are hard wood, you see"--holding up the sole
of his foot--"but they soon become damp, and then they stick and trip
us."

Gretel's eyes twinkled with fun as she thought of Hans's mishap in the
morning, but she blushed as she faltered out timidly, "Oh, no, we can't
join, but may we be there, my lady, on the great day to look on?"

"Certainly," answered Hilda, looking kindly into the two earnest faces
and wishing from her heart that she had not spent so much of her monthly
allowance for lace and finery. She had but eight kwartjes *{A kwartje
is a small silver coin worth one-quarter of a guilder, or ten cents in
American currency.} left, and they would buy but one pair of skates, at
the furthest.

Looking down with a sigh at the two pairs of feet so very different in
size, she asked:

"Which of you is the better skater?"

"Gretel," replied Hans promptly.

"Hans," answered Gretel in the same breath.

Hilda smiled.

"I cannot buy you each a pair of skates, or even one good pair, but here
are eight kwartjes. Decide between you which stands the best chance of
winning the race, and buy the skates accordingly. I wish I had enough
to buy better ones. Good-bye!" And, with a nod and a smile, Hilda, after
handing the money to the electrified Hans, glided swiftly away to rejoin
her companions.

"Jufvrouw! Jufvrouw van Gleck!" called Hans in a loud tone, stumbling
after her as well as he could, for one of his skate strings was untied.

Hilda turned and, with one hand raised to shield her eyes from the sun,
seemed to him to be floating through the air, nearer and nearer.

"We cannot take this money," panted Hans, "though we know your goodness
in giving it."

"Why not, indeed?" asked Hilda, flushing.

"Because," replied Hans, bowing like a clown but looking with the eye of
a prince at the queenly girl, "we have not earned it."

Hilda was quick-witted. She had noticed a pretty wooden chain upon
Gretel's neck.

"Carve me a chain, Hans, like the one your sister wears."

"That I will, lady, with all my heart. We have whitewood in the house,
fine as ivory; you shall have one tomorrow." And Hans hastily tried to
return the money.

"No, no," said Hilda decid