Their home lay on the edge of the deep, green wood, a little red-roofed forest house with a paved courtyard, with a barn for the cows, and a garden in front. It was a lovely spot, but a very lonely one, but they must live there because Bettina's father, Kaspar Weyland, was an under forester. But just then he was in the army and Frau Weyland was alone with the children.
Her voice reached them almost as soon as they came out of the deep forest.
"Father, is that you?" she called. "Father!"
"Ja, ja, dear daughter. Open the door and hear the news."
"God be thanked you have come." And she appeared in the doorway, holding in one hand a light, and drawing a shawl about her bed-gown with the other.
"Oh, father, father, how could you?"
She was young and looked like a grown-up Bettina with golden hair showing under the edges of her nightcap. She shut the door hastily as they entered.
"Annchen, Annchen," the old man made no excuses, "we have just seen the Emperor in the fields near Jena."
"The Emperor!" Frau Weyland set down her light. Her father nodding, she cried out, wringing her hands:
"Ach Gott! Ach Gott! Then, father, we shall have a battle."