whether you will or no; that's the way it is; why, everybody says so."

"Everywhere they take us for a wedding party," explained Uli, "because
we're driving along on Saturday, when so many folks get married."

"Ho, and not only that," said Johannes, "but it strikes me that you
wouldn't make a bad couple."

"You hear, Freneli," said her aunt, "Johannes says so too; there's no
use fighting it any more."

With Freneli tears had been contending with smiles, anger with jest;
finally she gained the mastery over herself, so as not to make a scene
before strangers, and replied, "I've always heard that if there was to
be a marriage, two people had to want it; but in this case nobody wants
it, and so I don't see how anything is to come of it."

"What isn't, can be," said Johannes' wife; "such things often come
unexpectedly."

"I don't feel any traces of it," said Freneli, but then broke off and
held out her hand again, saying how bold it had been of her to go along;
but her aunt had wished it, and she could make the excuses if they were
put to expense.

"I'm very glad you've come," said the housewife, and urgently bade them
come in, although the visitors, said they would not keep her from her
work, but would stay outside, it was so nice and pleasant in the open.
But, protest as they might that they needed nothing and had just eaten,
a fire was made and only by a thrice repeated trip to the kitchen could
a, formal meal be prevented, and hospitality reduced to a pot of coffee.
Freneli had soon made friends with the oldest daughter, who had grown
from an active child into a beautiful young girl, and had to inspect all
her treasures. Out of due respect, Uli soon withdrew, and the older
people were left alone.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Uli's mistress began the conversation,
saying that she'd have to come out with the reason for her journey; she
hadn't known any better place to go for advice and help than just here.
Johannes had so often helped 'em that she thought he wouldn't leave 'em
in the lurch this time either. Everything had gone so well with 'em that
it had been a real pleasure. To be sure, Uli had got Elsie into his head
for awhile; but the girl herself had been to blame for that, and she
thought Uli had seen in the end that she was no suitable match for him.
Then misfortune had taken them to the Gurnigel, and there Elsie had
picked up a husband, and since then everything had been ruined. Her
Johannes was carryin