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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 stadtholder； had become the ruler of three kingdoms； he had been victorious in council and in war； and now； in his hour of greatest triumph； had come as a simple guest to visit them。 he king heard their shouts with a beating heart。 It is a great thing to be beloved by one's country。 His English courtiers complimented him upon his reception。 〃Yes；〃 said he； 〃but the shouting is nothing to what it would have been if Mary had been with me！〃
While Ben was looking at the portraits； Mynheer van Gend was giving the boys an account of a recent visit to Antwerp。 As it was the birthplace of Quentin Matsys； the blacksmith who for love of an artist's daughter studied until he became a great painter； the boys asked their host if he had seen any of Matsys' works。
〃Yes； indeed；〃 he replied； and excellent they are。 His famous triptych in a chapel of the Antwerp cathedral； with the Descent from the Cross on the center panel； is especially fine； but I confess I was more interested in his well。〃
〃What well； mynheer？〃 asked Ludwig。
One in the heart of the city； near this same cathedral； whose lofty steeple is of such delicate workmanship that the French emperor said it reminded him of Mechlin lace。 The well is covered with a Gothic canopy surmounted by the figure of a knight in full armor。 It is all of metal and proves that Matsys was an artist at the forge as well as at the easel； indeed； his great fame is mainly derived from his miraculous skill as an artificer in iron。〃
Next； mynheer showed the boys some exquisite Berlin castings； which he had purchased in Antwerp。 They were IRON JEWELRY； and very delicatebeautiful medallions designed from rare paintings； bordered with fine tracery and open workworthy； he said； of being worn by the fairest lady of the land。 Consequently the necklace was handed with a bow and a smile to the blushing Mevrouw van Gend。
Something in the lady's aspect； as she bent her bright young face over the gift； caused mynheer to say earnestly； 〃I can read your thoughts； sweetheart。〃
She l