The children were consigned to the care of the upper servant, and one of the laboring women was also charged to remain in the house. Hansei and his wife started for the meadow.
They had already gone some distance, when Burgei came running after them, crying: "I want to go along; I want to go to Cousin Irmgard."
There was no help for it. They were obliged to take the child with them, for they were afraid to let her go back alone and neither of them cared to take her back.
"You're a naughty child, a very naughty child! And now I've got to carry you, a big girl like you," said Walpurga, taking the child in her arms. Hansei nodded, with a pleased air. It was well the child was with them, for then his wife, who was apt to go off into extremes, would not become so violent if the worst should happen.
Walpurga, who had at first thought that she could not walk alone, now carried the child and stepped out bravely.
"Let Burgei walk for a while, and when she gets tired again. I'll carry her," said Hansei.
As long as the path was wide enough, the child walked between its parents, and when it grew narrower, they let her run on ahead. When they found that they could get on but slowly, on account of the child, Hansei took her up in his arms, where she soon fell asleep.
Walpurga then softly whispered to Hansei:
"I must tell you now who our Irmgard is."
"And I tell you I don't want to know. She must tell me herself, if she lives; and if she's dead, you can tell me then, just as well."