The farmer's wife protested.
"The little one," and she set her lips hard, "is too tired."
But Hans was positive.
"We must go, my good woman, and at once," he announced again, and most positively.
Poor little Bettina did not want to go. The farmer's wife had been as kind to her as her mother; but her grandfather took no notice.
"Come, Liebling," he said, "say good-bye and thank the good Frau, and quickly, for we must be starting."
"Auf wiedersehen," said Bettina shyly. She hoped that some time she might see this good Frau Magda again.
Then Hans paid the bill, and off they went and trudged on their way until, late that evening, they came to an inn, where Hans announced they would remain until morning.
Bettina went to bed, but Hans returned to the big room where the men sat, and presently, just as Bettina was dreaming a fine dream about Willy Schmidt and her brothers in Thuringia, he returned with great news and awoke her.
The Emperor, he announced, had offered terms of peace to Prussia. All the troops, not wounded or prisoners, must be drawn up in northeast Prussia; the great cities of the kingdom, including Dantzic and Breslau, must be surrendered; all the Russians marching to the aid of Prussia must be sent back, and the King of Prussia must join with Napoleon in war on his friend, Alexander of Russia, should Napoleon command it.