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Madame Puzzel, Riekje will be pleased to see you. Come in," said Tobias. "Good-evening, lad. Oh! it's Lucas." "Good evening, Tobias," said the young man. "Dolf has stayed behind with his comrades, so I brought Madame Puzzel." "Come and have a drink, my son, then you can go back to Dolf." Nelle now came forward. "Good-evening, Madame Puzzel, how are you? Here is a chair.

Perhaps it's already too late. Strip off your clothes, Dolf." Dolf looked at the water, the lanterns, the night above him, and the men who urged him on. "Comrades," he cried, "before God, I cannot. Riekje is in labor and my life is not my own." "Dolf! Help!" cried the old man again, as with trembling hands he pointed to his dripping clothes. "I have three children, Dolf, yet I have been in twice.

"Then show me your beautiful white teeth, Riekje, and turn round and smile at me." "As you will, my Dolf, for all my joys and sorrows are yours. I have only you in the world." "Since that is so, Riekje, I wish to be everything to you; your father, your husband, and your child. Tell me, Riekje, I am your baby, am I not? There will be two of us to love our mother."

When they moved, the candlelight struck Dolf's shaven chin, Riekje's red lips, their necks or their pierced ears, as the sun strikes the belly of a fish below the water. Kettles, saucepans, and pots shone on the shelves and the shadows in the corners were soft as velvet. "What is the matter, Riekje?" cried Dolf suddenly, "you are as white as those plates in the cupboard, and your eyes are closed.

I wanted you to teach me how to toss them, but I tossed two into the fire, and the third fell into the cat's mouth. Yes, yes, Nelle, I remember." "Now, my man, we must make apple pancakes again in memory of that happy evening; I have brought shavings to light the fire. One day, Riekje and Dolf will recall the good festival of Saint Nicholas as we now recall it."

She wore a coarse woollen skirt, over which hung the full basque of her flowered jacket, but as Tobias' arm was round her waist the stiff pleats were not in such perfect order as usual. Riekje and Dolf sat hand in hand on the other side of the room; they had drawn as idea little that they might look at one another unbeknown to the others, and their faces were close together.

Then, without waiting for a reply, Dolf threw his arm round Riekje's waist, raised her from her chair, and pressed his young lips upon her neck. But Riekje half turned her head, and they kissed one another warmly on the lips. "Riekje," said Dolf, licking his lips in a greedy fashion, "a kiss like that is better than ryspap." "Nelle, let us do the same thing," said Tobias.

"Dolf, you can run better than I can," said Tobias. "Run and fetch Madame Puzzel; we will look after Riekje." Then Dolf pressed Riekje once more to his heart, and ran up the ladder. The plank which connected the boat with the shore shook as he crossed it. "He is already a long way off," said Tobias.

"Our lad has been lucky," said Nelle to her husband. "Riekje is a dear lass. She brought joy with her when she entered our house, Tobias." "We are very poor, Nelle," he replied, "but old parents like ourselves can have no greater happiness than to see their children sitting round their fire in love with one another." "They love one another as we loved, Tobias."

Dolf and Tobias clapped their hands and Riekje admired Nelle's dexterity. "A plate, quick!" The first koekebakke was spread out, golden and juicy, the color of a fried sole. Who would have this first one? It should be for Tobias; Tobias passed it on to Riekje, and the young girl cut it in pieces and shared it with Dolf.