The aunt objected seriously, but the husband said firmly: "That will be the best way. The sooner she goes, the sooner she will get back, and I want it distinctly understood that it is to be for only two weeks."
Wiseli was called, and told without further explanation to tie a few belongings together; she silently obeyed, not daring to ask any questions. It was just a year since she had come to the house with her bundle. She had been given nothing new during that time except the black jacket she had on; it was thinly lined, and her skirt hung limply to her knees. It was only a moment before she appeared with her bundle under her arm. She looked timidly from her dress to Mrs. Ritter as she entered.
"You are all right, Wiseli; we are not going far," said Mrs. Ritter. Wiseli followed her down the path, after a hasty farewell to the aunt and uncle, and she could not help wondering what was going to be done with her. Mrs. Ritter cut across the fields to make the distance shorter, for she felt as if she could not get the child away fast enough.
As soon as they were out of sight of Beechgreen, Mrs. Ritter turned to Wiseli, saying, "You know who Joiner Andreas is, don't you, Wiseli?"
"Oh, yes," she answered, her face lighting up on hearing the name.
Mrs. Ritter was pleasantly surprised, and continued, "He is sick, Wiseli; do you think that you would like to stay with him a couple of weeks and wait on him so that he will get well again?"
"Of course, Mrs. Ritter, I shall be very glad to go," Wiseli said, and Mrs. Ritter wished that Andreas could have seen her as she said it.
"You must remember to tell him that you are glad to be with him, if you are," said Mrs. Ritter; "otherwise he might think we made you come."
"I shall not forget to tell him," said the little girl.