When Mr. Delrick’s knocking had been answered by a response to come in, he entered the room. The child was there alone, knitting a heavy stocking at the window. Going up to Stefeli, he asked the little one to call her mother as he wanted to speak to her.
“Oh, she’ll soon be here. When she heard you knocking she went to her room because she was crying a little,” said Stefeli.
“Oh, I am sorry. Has something sad happened that your mother has to cry?” asked the stranger.
“Yes, because Vinzi has gone away for all summer and she doesn’t even know the people he is living with,” Stefeli went on.
“Is Vinzi your brother?” the gentleman asked, full of sympathy. “Why did he have to go away?”
“We don’t quite know,” Stefeli replied, “perhaps because Alida gave him music lessons.”
“Oh, what a strange case!” Mr. Delrick remarked with a smile. “I suppose you have always been with your brother. You must miss him now that you are all alone?”
“Yes, of course, and mother does, too, and he is missed also on the pasture. We were on the pasture all day long. Father has a cow-boy now and my mother won’t let me go to the pasture any more. Father said the cows won’t graze and are running about as if lost. Schwärzeli wants to jump all the hedges, and when the new boy chases her she turns about wildly and runs away frightened. I believe it, too. We have known each other so long and well, and she doesn’t like a new boy who tries to rule her. She doesn’t know his voice and she doesn’t feel at home at all, poor Schwärzeli!”
When Stefeli had gotten as far as that in her recital the door opened and her mother entered. Mr. Delrick, going to meet her, said that he had come with her husband’s permission to ask her a question, but as he had heard of her recent sorrow from her little daughter, he did not feel it right to trouble her.
“It is often good for us if we have to pull ourselves together. Then we have less time to brood over our troubles,” Mrs. Lesa replied collectedly.