"Very well!" said Mr. Goulden, "now arrange it on the table yourself."
And Laurent put on the radishes first, the fricasseed chicken and beautiful fat goose at the right, and on the left the beef which we had ourselves arranged with parsley in the plate. He put on also a nice plate of sauerkraut with little sausages, near the soup. Such a dinner had never been seen in our house before.
Just at that moment we heard Zébédé and his father coming up the stairs, and Father Goulden and I ran to meet them. Mr. Goulden embraced Zébédé and said:
"How happy I am to see you, I know you showed yourself a good comrade for Joseph in the midst of the greatest danger."
Then he shook the old grave-digger's hand, saying, "I am proud of you for having such a son."
Then Catherine, who had come behind us, said to Zébédé:
"I could not please Joseph more than to embrace you, you would have carried him to Hanau only your strength failed. I look upon you as a brother."
Then Zébédé, who was very pale, kissed her without saying a word, and we all went into the room in silence, Catherine, Zébédé, and I first, Mr. Goulden and the old grave-digger came afterward. Aunt Grédel arranged the dishes a little and then said:
"You are welcome, you are welcome! you who met in sorrow, have rejoined each other in joy. May God send his grace on us all."
Zébédé kissed Aunt Grédel and said, "Always fresh and in good health, it is a pleasure to see you."