“How you talk!” Vevi exclaimed. Never before had she met anyone like Hanny.
Connie mentioned the boat again, asking the little Dutch girl if she ever went for rides on the canal.
“Oh, yes, but not as often as I once did,” Hanny said, her face clouding. “That is because of Freda and Joseph.”
“Who are they?” Vevi inquired.
“Freda and Joseph Mattox,” Hanny replied. “They have the farm just below ours. They are not very nice and always make trouble. They will not let me tie up the boat anywhere on their land.”
“You have a much prettier farm than theirs,” said Connie. “The windmill is lovely.”
“Do you think so?” Hanny beamed with pleasure. “My uncle has spent much money fixing up the farm so it will remind him of our beautiful homeland. The Mattoxes, though, say he is wasteful of money. It is not true!”
The little girl unloaded the empty milk cans. Then she unhitched Bruno and let him run free.
“Would you like to see our cheese house?” she invited Connie and Vevi.
“Yes, indeed!” they exclaimed together. Both were eager to see every inch of the fascinating farm.