hans brinker-第33章
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s wind in and out； flower beds glow and send forth perfume； and ponds and sky look at each other in mutual admiration。
Even on that winter day the Bosch was beautiful。 Its trees were bare； but beneath them still lay the ponds； every ripple smoothed into glass。 The blue sky was bright overhead； and as it looked down through the thicket of boughs； it saw another blue sky； not nearly so bright； looking up from the dim thicket under the ice。
Never had the sunset appeared more beautiful to Peter than when he saw it exchanging farewell glances with the windows and shining roofs of the city before him。 Never had The Hague itself seemed more inviting。 He was no longer Peter van Holp； going to visit a great city； nor a fine young gentleman bent on sight…seeing； he was a knight； an adventurer； travel…soiled and weary； a Hop…o'…my…Thumb grown large； a Fortunatas approaching the enchanted castle where luxury and ease awaited him； for his own sister's house was not half a mile away。
〃At last； boys；〃 he cried in high glee； 〃we may hope for a royal resting placegood beds； warm rooms； and something fit to eat。 I never realized before what a luxury such things are。 Our lodgings at the Red Lion have made us appreciate our own homes。〃
The Merchant Prince and the Sister…Princess
Well might Peter feel that his sister's house was like an enchanted castle。 Large and elegant as it was； a spell of quiet hung over it。 The very lion crouching at its gate seemed to have been turned into stone through magic。 Within； it was guarded by genii； in the shape of red…faced servants； who sprang silently forth at the summons of bell or knocker。 There was a cat also； who appeared as knowing as any Puss…in…Boots； and a brass gnome in the hall whose business it was to stand with outstretched arms ready to receive sticks and umbrellas。 Safe within the walls bloomed a Garden of Delight； where the flowers firmly believed it was summer； and a sparkling fountain was laughing merrily to itself because Jack Frost could not find it。 There was a Sleeping Beauty； too； just at the time of the boys' arrival； but when Peter； like a true prince； flew lightly up the stairs and kissed her eyelids； the enchantment was broken。 The princess became his own good sister； and the fairy castle just one of the finest； most comfortable houses of The Hague。
As may well be believed； the boys received the heartiest of welcomes。 After they had conversed awhile with their lively hostess； one of the genii summoned them to a grand repast in a red…curtained room； where floor and ceiling shone like polished ivory； and the mirrors suddenly blossomed into rosy…cheeked boys as far as the eye could reach。
They had caviar now； and salmagundi； and sausage and cheese； besides salad and fruit and biscuit and cake。 How the boys could partake of such a medley was a mystery to Ben； for the salad was sour； and the cake was sweet； the fruit was dainty； and the salmagundi heavy with onions and fish。 But； while he was wondering； he made a hearty meal； and was soon absorbed in deciding which he really preferred； the coffee or the anisette cordial。 It was delightful toothis taking one's food from dishes of frosted silver and liqueur glasses from which Titania herself might have sipped。 The young gentleman afterward wrote to his mother that； pretty and choice as things were at home； he had never known what cut glass； china； and silver services were until he visited The Hague。
Of course； Peter's sister soon heard all of the boys' adventures。 How they had skated over forty miles and seen rare sights on the way； how they had lost their purse and found it again。 How one of the party had fallen and given them an excuse for a grand sail in an ice boat； how； above all； they had caught a robber and so； for a second time； saved their slippery purse。
〃And now； Peter；〃 said the lady when the story was finished； 〃you must write at once to tell the good people of Broek that your adventures have reached their height； that you and your fellow travelers have all been taken prisoners。〃
The boys looked startled。
〃Indeed； I shall do no such thing；〃 laughed Peter。 〃We must leave tomorrow at noon。〃
But the sister had already decided differently； and a Holland lady is not to be easily turned from her purpose。 In short； she held forth such strong temptations and was so bright and cheerful and said so many coaxing and unanswerable things； both in English and Dutch； that the boys were all delighted when it was settled that they should remain at The Hague for at least two days。
Next the grand skating race was talked over； Mevrouw van Gend gladly promised to be present on the occasion。 〃I shall witness your triumph； Peter；〃 she said； 〃for you are the fastest skater I ever knew。〃
Peter blushed and gave a slight cough as Carl answered for him。
〃Ah； mevrouw； he is swift； but all the Broek boys are fine skaterseven the rag pickers；〃 and he thought bitterly of poor Hans。
The lady laughed。 〃That will make the race all the more exciting；〃 she said。 〃But I shall wish each of you to be the winner。〃
At this moment her husband Mynheer van Gend came in； and the enchantment falling upon the boys was complete。
The invisible fairies of the household at once clustered about them； whispering that Jasper van Gend had a heart as young and fresh as their own； and if he loved anything in this world more than industry； it was sunshine and frolic。 They hinted also something about his having a hearty full of love and a head full of wisdom and finally gave the boys to understand that when mynheer said a thing； he meant it。
Therefore his frank 〃Well； now； this is pleasant；〃 as he shook hands with them all； made the boys feel quite at home and as happy as squirrels。
There were fine paintings in the drawing room and exquisite statuary； and portfolios filled with rare Dutch engravings； besides many beautiful and curious things from China and Japan。 The boys felt that it would require a month to examine all the treasures of the apartment。
Ben noticed with pleasure English books lying upon the table。 He saw also over the carved upright piano； life…sized portraits of William of Orange and his English queen； a sight that； for a time； brought England and Holland side by side in his heart。 William and Mary have left a halo round the English throne to this day； he the truest patriot that ever served an adopted country； she the noblest wife that ever sat upon a British throne； up to the time of Victoria and Albert the Good。 As Ben looked at the pictures he remembered accounts he had read of King William's visit to The Hague in the winter of 1691。 He who sang the Battle of Ivry had not yet told the glowing story of that day； but Ben knew enough of it to fancy that he could almost hear the shouts of the delighted populace as he looked from the portraits to the street； which at this moment was aglow with a bonfire； kindled in a neighboring square。
That royal visit was one never to be forgotten。 For two years William of Orange had been monarch of a foreign land； his head working faithfully for England； but his whole heart yearning for Holland。 Now； when he sought its shores once more； the entire nation bade him welcome。 Multitudes flocked to The Hague to meet him〃Many thousands came sliding or skating along the frozen canals from Amsterdam； Rotterdam； Leyden； Haarlem； Delft。〃 *｛Macaulay's History of England。｝ All day long the festivities of the capital were kept up； the streets were gorgeous with banners； evergreen arches； trophies； and mottoes of welcome and emblems of industry。 William saw the deeds of his ancestors and scenes of his own past life depicted on banners and tapestries along the streets。 At night superb fireworks were displayed upon the ice。 Its glassy surface was like a mirror。 Sparkling fountains of light sprang up from below to meet the glittering cascades leaping upon it。 Then a feathery fire of crimson and green shook millions of rubies and emeralds into the ruddy depths of the iceand all this time the people were shouting； 〃God bless William of Orange！ Long live the king！〃 They were half mad with joy and enthusiasm。 William； their own prince； their stadtho
