"We forgot to invite you to come to see us," he said earnestly. "Fritz and Paul said that you would not care to visit boys not yet twelve years of age, but I said that my father is a forest-keeper like you, and I would invite you to visit him; so I do invite you and hope you will come."
"I thank you heartily and would be glad to make his acquaintance."
"And when you visit Franz's father, you can visit mine," suggested
Fritz.
"And mine," echoed Paul.
"If it should suit me at any time to visit Michelstadt, I would certainly be pleased to make the acquaintance of the fathers of such gentlemanly boys."
The triplets smiled, touched their hats, started off again and were soon out of sight.
The journey that beautiful afternoon was truly charming, the sun shining brightly and all nature refreshed from its bath the evening before, and birds singing jubilantly in the trees by the roadside, but best of all, they were going home, would see all their loved ones before sunset, and would hear of the many, many things that had transpired during their absence.
"When we come in sight of the village, we will be as quiet as mice," remarked Fritz. "I would not have the Trojans see us for anything."
"Why?" asked Paul.
"Because we look so shabby with our battered hats and our rusty shoes."