"They might like them better than to be cold," was Mäzli's opinion.
"Oh, mother, Mrs. Knippel is coming up the road toward our house; I am sure she is coming to see us," said Lippo, who had gone to the window.
"And I have not even taken my things off on account of your disorder here," said the mother a little frightened. "Mäzli, go and greet Mrs. Knippel and take her into the front room. Tell her that I have just come from church and that I shall come directly."
Mäzli ran joyfully away; the errand seemed to please her. She received the guest with excellent manners and led her into the front room to the sofa, for Mäzli knew exactly the way her mother always did. Then she gave her mother's message.
"Very well, very well, And what do you want to do on this beautiful Sunday?" the lady asked,
"Take a walk," Mäzli answered rapidly. "Are they still locked up?" she then casually asked.
"Who? Who? Whom do you mean?" and the lady looked somewhat disapprovingly at the little girl.
"Edwin and Eugen," Mäzli answered fearlessly.
"I should like to know where you get such ideas," the lady said with growing irritation. "I should like to know why the boys should be locked up."
"Because they are so mean to Loneli all the time," Mäzli declared.