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〃Tell me again；〃 said Dame Brinker； wisely warding off another digression。
〃Well； just before jumping from the boat； he says； handing me the watch； 'I'm flying from my country as I never thought I could。 I'll trust you because you look honest。 Will you take this to my fathernot today but in a weekand tell him his unhappy boy sent it； and tell him if ever the time comes that he wants me to come back to him； I'll brave everything and come。 Tell him to send a letter toto'there； the rest is all gone from me。 I CAN'T remember where the letter was to go。 Poor lad； poor lad！〃 resumed Raff； sorrowfully； taking the watch from his vrouw's lap as he spoke。 〃And it's never been sent to his father to this day。〃
〃I'll take it； Raff； never fearthe moment Gretel gets back。 She will be in soon。 What was the father's name； did you say？ Where were you to find him？〃
〃Alack！〃 answered Raff； speaking very slowly。 〃It's all slipped me。 I can see the lad's face and his great eyes； just as plainand I remember his opening the watch and snatching something from it and kissing itbut no more。 All the rest whirls past me； there's a sound like rushing waters comes over me when I try to think。〃
〃Aye。 That's plain to see； Raff； but I've had the same feeling after a fever。 You're tired now。 I must get ye straight on the bed again。 Where IS the child； I wonder？〃
Dame Brinker opened the door； and called； 〃Gretel！ Gretel！〃
〃Stand aside； vrouw；〃 said Raff feebly as he leaned forward and endeavored to look out upon the bare landscape。 〃I've half a mind to stand beyond the door just once。〃
〃Nay； nay。〃 She laughed。 〃I'll tell the meester how ye tease and fidget and bother to be let out in the air； and if he says it； I'll bundle ye warm tomorrow and give ye a turn on your feet。 But I'm freezing you with this door open。 I declare if there isn't Gretel with her apron full； skating on the canal like wild。 Why； man；〃 she continued almost in a scream as she slammed the door； 〃thou'rt walking to the bed without my touching thee！ Thou'lt fall！〃
The dame's thee proved her mingled fear and delight； even more than the rush which she made toward her husband。 Soon he was comfortably settled under the new cover； declaring； as his vrouw tucked him in snug and warm； that it was the last daylight that should see him abed。
〃Aye！ I can hope it myself；〃 laughed Dame Brinker； 〃now you have been frisking about at that rate。〃 As Raff closed his eyes； the dame hastened to revive her fire； or rather to dull it； for Dutch peat is like a Dutchman； slow to kindle； but very good at a blaze once started。 Then； putting her neglected spinning wheel away； she drew forth her knitting from some invisible pocket and seated herself by the bedside。
〃If you could remember the man's name； Raff；〃 she began cautiously； 〃I might take the watch to him while you're sleeping。 Gretel can't but be in soon。〃
Raff tried to think but in vain。
〃Could it be Boomphoffen？〃 suggested the dame。 〃I've heard how they've had two sons turn out badGerard and Lambert？〃
〃It might be；〃 said Raff。 〃Look if there's letters on the watch； that'll guide us some。〃
〃Bless thee； man；〃 cried the happy dame； eagerly lifting the watch。 〃Why； thou'rt sharper than ever！ Sure enough。 Here's letters！ L。J。B。 That's Lambert Boomphoffen； you may depend。 What the J is for I can't say； but they used to be grand kind o' people； high…feathered as fancy fowl。 Just the kind to give their children all double names； which isn't Scripture； anyway。〃
〃I don't know about that； vrouw。 Seems to me there's long mixed names in the holy Book； hard enough to make out。 But you've got the right guess at a jump。 It was your way always；〃 said Raff； closing his eyes。 〃Take the watch to Boompkinks and try。〃
〃Not Boompkinks。 I know no such name； it's Boomphoffen。〃
〃Aye； take it there。〃
〃Take it there； man！ Why the whole brood of them's been gone to America these four years。 But go to sleep； Raff； you look pale and out of strength。 It'll al come to you； what's best to do； in the morning。
〃So； Mistress Gretel！ Here you are at last！〃
Before Raff awoke that evening； the fairy godmother； as we know； had been in the cottage； the guilders were once more safely locked in the big chest； and Dame Brinker and the children were faring sumptuously on meat and white bread and wine。
So the mother； in the joy of her heart； told them the story of the watch as far as she deemed it prudent to divulge it。 It was no more than fair； she thought； that the poor things should know after keeping the secret so safe ever since they had been old enough to know anything。
A Discovery
The next sun brought a busy day to the Brinkers。 In the first place the news of the thousand guilders had； of course； to be told to the father。 Such tidings as that surely could not harm him。 Then while Gretel was diligently obeying her mother's injunction to 〃clean the place fresh as a new brewing；〃 Hans and the dame sallied forth to revel in the purchasing of peat and provisions。
Hans was careless and contented； the dame was filled with delightful anxieties caused by the unreasonable demands of ten thousand guilders' worth of new wants that had sprung up like mushrooms in a single night。 The happy woman talked so largely to Hans on their way to Amsterdam and brought back such little bundles after all that he scratched his bewildered head as he leaned against the chimney piece； wondering whether 〃Bigger the pouch； tighter the string〃 was in Jacob Cats； and therefore true； or whether he had dreamed it when he lay in a fever。
〃What thinking on； Big…eyes？〃 chirruped his mother； half reading his thoughts as she bustled about； preparing the dinner。 〃What thinking on？ Why； Raff； would ye believe it； the child thought to carry half Amsterdam back on his head。 Bless us！ He would have bought us as much coffee as would have filled this fire pot。 'No； no； my lad；' says I。 'No time for leaks when the ship is rich laden。' And then how he staredayejust as he stares this minute。 Hoot； lad； fly around a mite。 Ye'll grow to the chimney place with your staring and wondering。 Now； Raff； here's your chair at the head of the table； where it should be； for there's a man to the house nowI'd say it to the king's face。 Aye； that's the waylean on Hans。 There's a strong staff for you！ Growing like a weed； too； and it seems only yesterday since he was toddling。 Sit by； my man； sit by。〃
〃Can you call to mind； vrouw； 〃said Raff； settling himself cautiously in the big chair； 〃the wonderful music box that cheered your working in the big house at Heidelberg？〃
〃Aye； that I can；〃 answered the dame。 〃Three turns of a brass key and the witchy thing would send the music fairly running up and down one's back。 I remember it well。 But； Raff〃growing solemn in an instant〃you would never throw our guilders away for a thing like that？〃
〃No； no； not I； vrouw； for the good Lord has already given me a music box without pay。〃
All three cast quick； frightened glances at one another and at Raff。 Were his wits on the wing again？
〃Aye； and a music box that fifty pouchful would not buy from me；〃 insisted Raff