*

Without paying attention to the conversation of the two women, Uli drove
to the designated inn. The hostess welcomed them and led them into a
special room, as the mother had desired, after telling Uli to come right
in. Then she ordered wine and a couple of plates with something to eat;
driving had made them hungrier than they would have believed possible.

The order was brought, but Uli was missing. The hostess had been sent
out after him, and came back and said she had told him; but still he did
not come. Then the mistress said, "Go, Freneli, and tell him to come at
once." Freneli hesitated and thought they oughtn't to compel him; if he
was hungry or thirsty he'd come all right. "If you won't go," said her
aunt, "I'll have to go myself." Then Freneli went out in a temper, and
with stinging words drove Uli along, who had been standing in the sulks
by the bowling alley and had at first refused to come. He could stay
where he was, for all of her, she said; but her aunt had ordered it. It
was she that wanted him to come; she herself, Freneli, had no desire to
run after him any more.

Uli came at last, giving little answer to the many reproaches of his
mistress for having to be forced to come. But she filled his glass
heartily, forced him to eat, and kept up a chatter of talk--how well she
had liked it at Cousin Johannes' house, and how she could now see where
Uli had got his training. But he must have been especially good to them,
too, for the children still hung upon him and their parents loved him
almost like a son. "I suppose you'll want to go back to them, when you
leave us."

"No," said Uli.

"It's not customary to ask, to be sure; but will you tell me where you
are going?" asked his mistress.

"I don't know yet," said Uli; "I haven't been in a hurry to take a
place, although I could have had several."

"Well then, stay with us; that's the best thing for both of us; we're
accustomed to each other now."

"I hope you won't take it ill of me," he said; "but I don't intend to be
a servant any more."

"Have you something else?" she asked.

"No," he answered.

"Well, if you don't want to be a servant any more, suppose we make you
tenant on our farm."

This speech affected Uli like a sudden blow. He dropped his mutton-laden
fork on his plate, but kept his mouth open, turned his saucer eyes upon
his mistress and stared at her as if she had come down from the moon.
Freneli, who had been standing at the wind