Mrs. Lesa's sewing slipped out of her fingers into her lap as she looked up at her husband pale with dread.
"Have you considered the state your brother is in, Vinzenz? Do you not remember the name they have given him?" she asked. She was filled with anxiety for she could picture their Vinzi staring ahead as was his habit and her brother-in-law, sad figure that he was, alongside him.
"That's nothing," replied her husband. "He is not vicious; he just doesn't take to work and can't manage things; but he has sense enough to know there should be a master on the place as well as a servant. That is why he insists I ought to go back or send my boy to him. Vinzi is not stupid, and when he finds he can issue orders, he will like it. After that comes knowledge. This is just the thing for him, believe me! I have thought it all over, and we are off on Sunday."
Plenty of objections occurred to Mrs. Lesa, but since it seemed everything she had said only strengthened her husband's determination, she remained silent and he went off.
When she was alone with her thoughts, she remembered what grief she had suffered when Vinzi went away before, and how much better things had gone with him than she had feared. She had not trusted in the dear God. He had led her lad to kindly people, and surely to begin grieving and doubting now, as though she knew better than He what was best for Vinzi, displayed ingratitude. She would put everything in His hands, in full confidence that the Father in Heaven meant well with all His children and would guide hers as was best. She grew calm, and longed to talk with Vinzi, who did not know anything about this new plan.
That evening she heard Vinzi and his father as they returned from the woods where they had been all day and called the boy to her, for she knew that her husband would be busy in the stable and barn and would not miss him.
Stefeli came running in as soon as she heard Vinzi, but her mother sent her out to the barn on an errand, expecting she would remain there quite a while with her animal friends.
But Stefeli had noticed that her mother had something special on her mind, and thought it was absolutely necessary she should be present. She flew on her errand and was back again. But her mother did not share her view, and said, "Go and search every corner in the hen-house. You know the hens lay in unexpected places. Hunt everywhere before you bring in the eggs."
Stefeli ran as fast as she could, but she was hardly out of the house before she came rushing back. Flinging open the door, she shouted, "He is coming back! He is coming back!"
With that she was off again. The mother and Vinzi gazed at one another. Both had the same thought, but it seemed so impossible that neither expressed it.