It pleased her that Vinzi was glad to stay indoors, and first of all, he must have another cup of milk for she declared it was needed to lay the last dust of the journey.
Then she seated herself comfortably in her chair, saying, "Now tell me about your people and how things are going at home."
Vinzi needed no second invitation for he had been thinking about what his mother would be doing then, wondering how Stefeli was faring alone in the pasture, and how everything was getting along without him.
Now there was a great tramping outside, the door was thrown open and a youngster about Vinzi's age came rushing in. A little chap hurried behind him, and then a taller boy followed who evidently did not wish to be last, for giving a quick spring, he tried to vault over the smallest boy by lifting himself on the little fellow's shoulders. But the sly youngster ducked down and the bigger fellow fell headlong with a thud.
"You shouldn't come in, in such an unmannerly way, Faz," said the mother calmly.
"Good evening, cousin!" exclaimed the eldest boy, holding out his hand to Vinzi.
"Good evening, cousin!" called out the second boy also, and "Good evening, cousin!" greeted the youngest, pressing up to Vinzi.
While Vinzi was shaking the proffered hands, the father had come in, and as he sat down he said, "Well, now you must learn one another's names, boys. Your cousin is called Vinzi. That is for Vinzenz. My three are Joseph, Boniface and Maurus. Those are their calendar names, but here at home we call them Jos, Faz and Russli. Now I think you had better take your places at the table."
Now that quiet had been restored so that she could be heard, the mother said, "As our cousins did not inform us they were sending their son to us, we did not make ready for him. I have been thinking if he is to sleep in the house, the storeroom will have to be emptied of the rye and corn and all sorts of stuff. But the squeaking and scratching of the mice might scare him. Wouldn't it be better, if I made up a comfortable bed in the hayrick for him?"
"I will be glad to sleep in the hayrick," answered Vinzi.