plump neck, and strong arms; her cheeks were round and sunburnt, her
eyes of a dusky brown, her lips full and red; and as for her black hair,
which was coiled six times round her head, the coils were heavy as the
towing ropes used on the banks of the river. Though so gentle and quiet,
she was often lost in sombre fancies; but when Dolf was near, her face
lit up with smiles and her teeth were bright as a wet oar's blade
shining in the sun. Then she no longer gloomed; the cloud which veiled
sad memories was lifted, bright hopes irradiated her face, every line in
which sparkled like whitebait in the meshes of a net. Then it was that
she would turn to her "beau garcon" and clap her hands. The flame which
escaped through the stove door caught her cheeks at that moment, and
they were red as salmon; the dark eyes fixed on her work were bright as
living coal. Yet two other things shone like her eyes; the pendant
hanging to the gold ring in her ear, and the silver ring which she wore
on her finger.

"Are you comfortable, Riekje?" asked Nelle, from time to time. "Do your
straw-lined sabots keep your feet warm?"

"Yes, maman Nelle, I am as happy as a queen," she answered, smiling.

"As a queen, you say," replied Nelle. "You will be like a queen, soon,
my girl, for you are going to eat some of my apple keikebakken. There
comes Dolf over the planks, bringing us flour, eggs, and cream; you will
have something to say about my pancakes, Riekje."

She opened the door, for a heavy step could be heard on the bridge of
the boat.