When they came within sight of Lindenhof Renti's eyes sparkled. "There is the roof!" he cried. "Do you really mean that I am to stay here again?"
"The staying depends very much upon you, Renti; but if you walk so fast I cannot keep up with you."
The boy could hardly hold back his steps as they approached the house. Suddenly he asked: "May I run up to the alder meadow for a moment? I will come right back."
The woman looked at him sharply. "Renti," she said, "you aren't thinking of running away already, are you?"
"Oh, no; I am here now, you see. Where could I run?" he said with a happy smile.
The woman shook her head as though she did not understand. "What do you want in the alder meadow?"
"Only to run over and tell Gretchen about it; then I will come right back."
"Then run," she said in kindly tones; but it all seemed most extraordinary to her.
Renti ran as fast as he could. Gretchen was still sitting on the wall, but she looked sad, for she thought Renti was not coming; perhaps he was in trouble again.