The latter had actually directed his eyes to the side where the whisperers sat.  Lux, bending over his book, kept quiet at last.  Finally the longed-for hour came and in a few minutes the whole swarm was outside.  With a great deal of noise, but in a quick and pretty orderly fashion they now formed a procession, which began to move in the direction of Apollonie’s little house.  Here a halt was made.  Kurt, climbing to the top of a heap of logs, which lay in the pathway, stood upright, while the others grouped themselves about him.  Apollonie opened the window a little, but hid behind it, for she was wondering what was going on.  Loneli stood close behind her.  She had just come back breathlessly, for she had heard that a procession was coming towards her grandmother’s house.

“Mrs. Apollonie,” Kurt cried out with loud voice, “two whole classes from school have come to you to tell you that it was not Loneli’s fault when she had to sit on the shame-bench.  It only happened because her character is so good.  Out of pure politeness she answered a question somebody asked her.  When the teacher wanted to know who was chattering, she honestly accused herself.  She did not tell him that she answered a question in fear of accusing somebody else.  We wanted to tell you all about it so that you won’t think you have to be ashamed of Loneli.  We think and know that she is the friendliest and most obliging child in school.”

“Long live Loneli!” Lux suddenly cheered so that the whole band involuntarily joined him.  “Long live Loneli!;” it sounded again and the echo from the castle-mountain repeated, “Loneli.”

Apollonie opened the window completely, and putting out her head, cried:  “It is lovely of you, children that you don’t want Loneli disgraced.  I thank you for justifying her.  Wait a minute.  I should like to do you a favor, too.”

With that Apollonie disappeared from the window.  Soon after she came out by the door with a large basket of fragrant apples on her arm.  Putting it in front of the children, she said encouragingly, “Help yourselves.”

“Good gracious,” cried out Lux, with one of the juicy apples between his teeth, “I know these.  They only grow in the castle-garden, on the two trees on the right, in the corner by the fence.  Do you know that, Kurt,” he said confidentially, “I only wonder how she could get hold of such a basket full, you know, without being—­you know—­” With this he made the unmistakable motion of Mr. Trius with his tool of correction.

“What on earth do you mean?” Kurt cried out full of indignation.  “Mrs. Apollonie did not need to steal them.  Mr. Trius certainly could give her a few baskets of apples for all the shirts she sews and mends for him.”

“Oh, I see, that is different,” said Lux, now properly informed.

In the shortest time the huge basket was emptied of its delicious apples and the whole band had dispersed after many exclamations of thanks.  They all ran home and Kurt outran them all.  It was important now to do his home-work as speedily as possible, as the second expedition was to take place a little later.  When he reached the front door he noticed that Mrs. Knippel was coming up behind him.