“Oh, I forgot something,” she said.  “I have to go back again.  Please wait for me, I won’t be long.”

Maezli disappeared but came back very shortly with a large picture-book under each arm.  They were the biggest she had found and she had chosen them because she thought:  The bigger the books, the bigger his delight at looking at them.

“Now I’ll tell you what I thought,” she said on reaching Leonore.  “You see, up in the castle under a big tree sits the sick Castle-Steward.  I promised to go to see him soon again and to bring him a picture book.  But I am bringing him two because he’ll like two better.  I also promised to bring you and something else besides.  You don’t know why he needs that other thing, but you will hear when we are up there.  Let us go now.”

“But, Maezli, I don’t know the gentleman and he doesn’t know me,” Leonore began to object.  “I can’t go, because he might not like it.  Besides your mother knows nothing about it.”

But Maezli had not the slightest intention of giving up her expedition.

“I have everything I want to bring him now, and the Castle-Steward has probably been waiting for us all day, so, you see, we simply must go.  Mama also says that one has to go to see sick people and bring them things, because it cheers them up.  He has to sit all day alone under the tree and he gets dreadfully tired.  When he has a headache not a person comes to bring him anything.  It is not nice of you not to want to go when he is expecting us.”

Maezli had talked so eagerly that she not only became absolutely convinced herself that it would be the greatest wrong if she did not go to see the Castle-Steward, but produced a similar feeling in Leonore.

“I shall gladly go with you, if you think the sick gentleman does not object,” she said; “I only didn’t know whether he would want us.”

Maezli was satisfied now, and, gaily talking, led Leonore toward the lofty iron door.  The path led up between fragrant meadows and heavily laden apple trees, and when they reached their destination, they found it quite superfluous to ring the bell.  Mr. Trius had long ago observed them and stood immovably behind the door.  Hoping that he would open it, the children waited expectantly, but he did not budge.

“We want to pay a visit to the Castle-Steward,” said Maezli.  “You’d better open soon.”

“Not for two,” was the answer.

“Certainly.  We both have to go in, because he is expecting us,” Maezli informed him.  “I promised to bring Leonore, so you’d better open.”

But Mr. Trius did not stir.

“Come, Maezli, we’d better go back,” said Leonore in a low voice.  “Can’t you see that he won’t open it?  Maybe he is not allowed.”

But it was no easy matter to turn Maezli from her project.

“If he won’t open it I’ll scream so loud that the Castle-Steward will hear it,” she said obstinately.  “He is sure to say something then, for he is waiting for us.  I can shout very loud, just listen:  ’Mr. Castle-Steward!’”