“Fourthly, ’Lizebeth will give notice at once,” continued the pastor, “for she now is the worst of all, from all that I see.  One thing is sure, dear wife, if the little fellow was not so guileless and had not such an exceptionally good disposition, you women would have ruined him so that he never could get straightened again, for you, one and all, spoil him quite terribly.”

“It is just this harmless and exceptionally well-disposed character of the child which wins all hearts, so that one cannot help treating him with peculiar love.  No talk of sending Erick away before Easter can be considered, and much can happen before then, my dear husband.”

“Oh, yes,” the latter agreed, “only do not look for an answer from Denmark, for it would be in vain.  The guilelessness in that address went a little too far.”

But the pastor’s wife was contented that another respite had been granted, and she hoped on.

The winter passed, Easter was approaching, but no answer came.  This time the pastor’s wife got ahead of her husband.  When shortly before Easter a belated April frost set in, she explained to him that new winter wraps had to be made for all the children, and before one could think of sending Erick away, summer clothing had to be prepared for him; his good velvet suit looked, indeed, still very fine, and would last some time yet, but her husband knew it was his only suit, and for mid-summer another must absolutely be procured for him, and for that, time and leisure were needed.

The pastor gave his consent to the postponement without opposition.  In his heart he was heartily glad for the good excuse; for he, like all the rest, had learned to love Erick so much that the thought of his departure was very painful to him.

His wife was contented again and thought in her heart:  “Who knows what may happen before summer.”

But something did happen which seemed to destroy with one blow all her hopes.  The warm June had come and on the sunny hillsides around Upper Wood the strawberries, which grew there in plenty, were beginning to give out most delightful fragrance, and to turn red.  That was a glorious time for all children round about.  The children of the parsonage, too, undertook daily strawberry-expeditions and every evening belated they returned home.  The order-devoted aunt, who, after a winter’s absence, had returned with the summer to the parsonage, did not leave any remedy untried to restore at least the usual condition of things.

Below near the Woodbach the berries grew largest and most plentifully.  But to go there they had to wait till Saturday afternoon, when they had no school, for it was too far to take the walk after afternoon school.  When Saturday came and the sun was shining brightly in the sky, then the whole company in joyous mood left the parsonage, Sally and Erick ahead, Ritz and Edi following.  All were armed with baskets, for to-day, so they had decided, Mother was to receive a great quantity of strawberries instead of their eating all on the spot as usually happened.  Having arrived on the hillside over the Woodbach, the best spots were sought; if one was found which was plentifully sprinkled over with strawberries, then the whole company was called together and the place cleared, and afterwards each went out again for new discoveries.