He looked bewildered, astounded. They all three went inside; and each of
them drank a big glass of gin.

The policemen whispered something together; the elder wiped the drink
from his moustache and then said, very severely:

"And now, clear out; hurry up! And mind your manners, will you, next
time!"

He was outside once more, loafing on, along the houses.

* * * * *

SPRING

* * * * *

V

SPRING

Mother stood like a clucking hen among her red-cheeked youngsters. She
was holding a loaf against her fat stomach and, with a curved
pruning-knife, was cutting off good thick slices which the youngsters
snatched away one by one and stuffed into their pockets. Horieneke
fetched her basket of knitting and her school-books. She first pulled
Fonske's stocking up once more, buttoned Sarelke's breeches and wiped
Lowietje's nose; and, with an admonishing "Straight to school, do you
hear, boys?" from mother, the whole band rushed out of the door, through