But his great inner emotion kept him from uttering a sound.
“Why don’t you say yes? I am sure you must want to if you like it so much,” Alida said with slight impatience. “You can come here every day at two o’clock because Miss Landrat always takes a walk with Hugo at that time. I am supposed to practice till three and sometimes even longer if they happen to be away. Then we’ll be quite alone and I can teach you everything. We can either play together or take turns.”
When Vinzi saw it so clearly put before him it seemed at last possible. With a voice clearly showing his delight he said, “There is nothing I should love better in this world.”
“So now it’s all settled that you come to me tomorrow,” said Alida with satisfaction, “or do you want to begin today?”
However anxious Vinzi was to do so, he realized that he had already stayed away from Stefeli long enough. But he gladly gave his promise to come the next day, if nothing prevented him from doing so. He could hardly yet believe his good fortune, but Alida’s sureness about the matter proved catching and he ran away in high glee. The thought of what Stefeli would say to the plan chiefly occupied his mind, as he ran along. Maybe she would refuse to be left alone each day and perhaps she would think their father might be angry if he knew. Therefore he still felt slightly uncertain.
When he reached the pasture he found everything in perfect order. The cows were lying on the self-same spots and Schwärzeli was wandering quietly about. He ran to Stefeli, who sat under a tree singing a song.
“What a long time you have been away,” said Stefeli, interrupting her song. “What did she say?”
Vinzi, sitting down beside his sister, began to relate what had happened. She heard of the joyous prospect Alida had offered him, namely, to go to her an hour every day to practice. But he had not yet accepted because he did not know what Stefeli would say to being left alone for a whole hour every day.
Stefeli pondered for a moment. “You can easily do it, Vinzi,” she said eagerly. “I know that it will please you more than anything.”
“Oh, yes, I know it, too,” said Vinzi with gleaming eyes. “Don’t you think that there won’t be much trouble with the cows at that time? They are still quiet.”