Vinzi heartily shook the proffered hands and answered their salutations. Meanwhile the father had come in.
“You must know each other’s names, boys,” he said, stepping towards the group. “Your cousin’s is Vinzi, which is short for Vinzenz. My three are called Joseph, Bonifaz and Maurus. But these are their calendar names, and we call them Jos, Faz and Russli. I think you had better sit down now, for the potatoes have cooled off enough to eat.”
“Oh, I am glad,” said the mother with satisfaction, “then they won’t burn their throats today. Usually they do when they are in such a hurry.”
All three settled down to the important business of eating. They said nothing, but their glances resting on Vinzi showed that he occupied their thoughts completely.
Now that the tumult had subsided and one could speak and hear without exertion, the mother said, “As our relatives did not let us know beforehand that Vinzi was coming, we did not get ready for him. But I have an idea. If he is to sleep in the house we shall have to clear out the store-room where wheat, corn and all kinds of things are kept. The mice up there squeak and scratch so much that they might frighten him. Wouldn’t it be much better if we fixed him a bed in the hay-rick? He would really be much more comfortable there.”
“He’ll have to say himself where he’d rather sleep,” put in the uncle. “If he prefers the store-room, we’ll all of us go up and clear everything away. Vinzi, where would you rather sleep?”
“I’d love to sleep in the hay-rick,” replied Vinzi.
“I thought so,” said his aunt, quite relieved that the matter was so quickly settled. “And you must have a little table, a bench and a chest of drawers to make you comfortable,” she added. “As soon as you are all done with supper you can take some things over for him.”
She went out first in search of what was needed, and soon after the three boys had finished their meal and hastened after her. When Vinzi rose in order to make himself useful, too, the uncle assured him that the heavy pack he had carried on his back was enough work for that day. Hanging it on his arm, the man beckoned to Vinzi to follow him. They had scarcely reached the hay-rick, when the three boys came running along. Jos carried a little cupboard, Faz had a small table with a large blanket on top, and Russli brought a little bench. The mother with the pillow and sheets followed behind. With an agility clearly showing how used she was to climbing into the barn, the aunt had gone in. One thing after another was lifted up by Lorenz Lesa, and she pulled them in through the door.
When the last one was inside, the uncle said, “We’ll say good-night to you now. On the inside of the door is a wooden bolt that you can fasten. Once inside, you are the sole master of your castle and no person can come whom you wish to keep out.”