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Tobias threw his cap up in the air, and Nelle, laughing, pinched the face of the new-born babe whom Madame Puzzel swaddled on her knee. When the baby was well wrapped up, Madame Puzzel placed it in Dolf's arms and he kissed it cautiously with little smacks. Riekje called Dolf to her side, took his head in her hand, and fell asleep until morning.
"But I did not look at them, for Tobias was my sweetheart; a fine lad he was, with black hair and a pointed beard, a green velvet jacket, bright eyes and big brown cheeks." "Ah! Nelle, how happy we were in those days when we could clasp hands behind a hedge, and sometimes, too, I stole a kiss when your head was turned away."
Anyone could see that it was good old schiedam, for Tobias and his son nodded their heads and smacked their lips with pleasure. "Ah! my daughter," said Nelle, "it will be a happy day for us all in two years' time, when a little sabot stands in the hearth filled with carrots and turnips." "Yes, Riekje, it will be a happy day for us all," said Dolf, closing his big hands over hers.
The rough head of the old man, with his prominent cheek-bones, his gray beard, his shaven lips, and ears pierced with gold rings, stood out the color of smoked salmon, against the brown wall. Near him sat Nelle.
"You were then a pretty, fresh girl from Deurne, Nelle, with cheeks as red as a cherry and a nose like a pretty little seashell. When you went to church on Sunday with your fine winged cape and your big metal star, which all young girls wear, every man turned to look at you."
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."
It's Slipper's old cat that you have put into the stew-pan, with some candle-grease." "Yes," replied Nelle, "and next time I shall fry mice. Go and set the table, and leave me alone you bad fellow." Dolf went quietly into the closet, leading from the cabin. Choosing a very white and well-starched shirt he put it on over his clothes and came back flapping the tails.
Nelle, who had not seen this, struck the palm of her left hand with her right fist, complaining bitterly. "What are we to do without milk, Dolf? I must go to town myself. These big lads think of nothing but their love, Tobias." "If I produced the milk from under Riekje's chair, would you kiss me, mother?"
"This is the finest day of the year, Nelle," exclaimed a big stalwart man of about sixty, with a bright smile, to a fresh clean-looking woman, who at that moment came down the ladder of the boat with shavings in her hand. "Yes, Tobias," replied the woman, "it is indeed the day of days for boatmen." "Do you remember the first feast of St. Nicholas, which we kept together, after we were married?"
Dolf noticed that the saucepan contained something else, but Nelle covered it up so quickly that he could not tell whether it were meat or cabbage. He was puzzled and tried to guess. Gradually the contents began to boil, and a thin, brown smoke escaped from the lid which bubbled up and down.
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