You must not let her beat you."
They hurried through with their work, Kit and Kat helped. Then
they all put on their heavy shoes and wraps, took their skates
over their shoulders, and started for the canal.
"If you learn to skate well enough, we will take you to town
before the feast of St. Nicholas," said Father Vedder. "But it
comes very soon."
He put on his own skates and Kit's, and the mother put on her own
and Kat's.
"I'm sure we can do it almost right away," said Kat.
"Now we'll show you how to skate," said Father Vedder. He stood
the Twins up on the ice. They held each other's hands. They were
afraid to move. Father Vedder took Mother Vedder's hand.
"See," he said, "like this!" And away they went like two
swallows, skimming over the ice. In a minute they were ever so
far away.
Kit and Kat felt lonesome, and very queer, when they saw their
father and mother flying along in that way. They weren't used to
see them do anything but work, and move about slowly.
"It looks easy," said Kit. "Let's try it. We must not be afraid."
He started with his right leg, pushing it out a little in front
of him. But it was very strange how his legs acted. They didn't
seem to belong to him at all! His left leg tried to follow his
right, just as it ought to; but, instead, it slid out sidewise
and knocked against Kat's skates. Then both Kat's feet flew up;
and she sat down very hard, on the ice. And Kit came down on top
of her.
They tried to get up; but, each time they tried, their feet slid
away from them.
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