But Stefeli never cried very long, and when she remembered that two days before she had seen half-ripe strawberries behind the barn, she jumped up quickly; she would toss her schoolbag in the hall and then gather the berries. But when she flung open the door, she stood riveted to the spot in surprise. Her mother sat talking quite confidentially with a stranger, and beside him sat a boy the size of Vinzi, who was taking a lively part in the conversation.
"Of course that is the little daughter," the man said, glancing toward the door. "Come here, Stefeli; we are not strangers. I am Cousin Lorenz and this is Jos, Vinzi's good friend."
The delighted Stefeli went forward to greet them both; anyone whom Vinzi loved was particularly welcome when she was feeling so forlorn. She shook hands with Cousin Lorenz for he looked at her with such kindly eyes, and then stepped up to Jos, who smiled at her as though to say, "We'll get along nicely together."
Stefeli turned to face her Cousin Lorenz and asked, "Jos is going to stay with us the whole summer; isn't that so? Just as long as Vinzi stayed with you."
Her cousin laughed heartily, and said, "That is surely a fine welcome! We will see what your father thinks. I wish you would take Jos outdoors for a while."
Stefeli did not wait for him to ask twice, but took Jos by the hand and drew him happily along. He must see everything in stable and barn, in garden and hen-house.
While they were gone, Vinzenz Lesa came in from his work and greeted his guest with evident pleasure; it was good to see his happy, contented cousin just when he was so depressed.
After the first greetings, Lorenz said, "We were worried because we did not hear anything more from you, and my wife gave me no rest. She feared we might not see your Vinzi until late in the summer, and we want him with us all summer. It occurred to me that I would bring our Jos to you for a while, as we had arranged, and then later the two boys could come to us until winter. But your wife now tells me Vinzi is away, that I cannot even see him, and as to his coming up to us, that is out of the question. My wife will be bitterly disappointed; you cannot conceive how she loves the boy, but he deserves it."
Hospitable Stefeli soon thought Jos ought certainly to have something to eat, and came leading him into the room like an old friend.