But Stefeli here pulled violently at her mother’s apron and whispered, “Say for the summer, mother, quickly, before he says yes,” for she was terribly afraid that the proposal might be accepted and then could not be changed.
“Yes, I will, cousin, and I must say you don’t make it hard for one to stay,” replied the cousin. “I came purposely on Saturday so I could have a nice Sunday with you tomorrow. I’ll gladly stay if it suits you, but I’ll have to leave on Monday. Vinzenz shall settle what is to be done about my boy.”
“There is plenty of time,” replied the latter leisurely. “We’ll take a walk across the fields tomorrow. I suppose you count on looking about you here, and that will give us a good chance to talk.”
“Look at the cow-stable before everything else,” cried Jos enthusiastically, who had been silent till then out of deep respect for his uncle. But the impression he had received in the stable was too powerful for him to be restrained. “I am sure there are no finer cows anywhere than in uncle’s stable. They look as clean as if they had just been watered.”
“I thought you would like them,” said his father, “and I must see them today. Do you still have your breed from Freiburg, Vinzenz?”
“Why not?” retorted the other. “I don’t change a thing if it’s good. Your boy seems to have eyes in his head.”
As soon as they had risen from the table, the men began their stroll through the stable and barn. Jos and Stefeli joyfully realized their chance to take another walk, for there were still many things for Jos to see.
Early next afternoon the two men wandered through the blooming fields and meadows of Lesa’s property. Mrs. Lesa was taking the children to the sunny slope where the first strawberries were ripening, for she knew that that would please them both. She had planned this separation, as the men had many affairs to talk over. Busy with observations of the blooming trees, the luscious grass and the fields which promised a plenteous harvest, they had reached the slope where Lesa’s fine forest ground began.
Before they started up the forest path, shaded by beautiful beech trees, Lorenz stood still a moment, gazing down at the dwelling-house which looked up so invitingly from the high walnut trees surrounding it.
“Vinzenz, you are a lucky man,” he said at last. “Joy and peace in your house and everything about you in such fine shape that no one could wish for anything better. And all this is your own property.”