“That’s natural,” said the master, “and I wouldn’t take that as a bad omen.  Think:  nearly ten years ago, when you were a ne’er-do-well and I started you going right, how hard it was for you to do better, and how little faith you had in the possibility that everything would turn out right.  But still it did, gradually.  Your faith got stronger, and now you’re a lad that can be said to have won his battle.  So don’t be distressed; what you’ve got before you now is all the easier for it, and the worst thing that can happen is that you’ll come back to me in a year.  Just keep yourself straight and watch out, for my cousin is terribly suspicious; but once he’s taken your measure, you can put up with him.  You’ll have the worst time with the other servants; go easy with them, little by little, and in kindness as long as you can; then if that’s no good, speak right up so that you’ll know where you are—­I wouldn’t like a year of that sort of thing myself.”

It was a bright, clear January day as they drove through handsome fields, then between white fences and glittering trees, toward Slough Farm.  This property lay perhaps ten minutes’ walk from Uefligen, was over a hundred acres in size and very fruitful, but not all in one piece; some fields and one grass-meadow lay at some distance.  In wet years it might be swampy in spots, but that could be managed.  As they drove up, Joggeli came stumping on a stick around the house, which stood on rather low ground, and said that he had been looking for them for a long time, and had almost thought they weren’t coming; he had become impatient.  He shouted toward the barns, which were built against the house, for some one to come and take the horse.  No one came.  Uli himself had to unhitch and asked where to take Blazer.  “Why, is nobody here?” Nobody came.  Then the old man went angrily to the stable and pulled the door open, and there was the carter calmly currying horses.  “Don’t you hear when you’re called?” cried Joggeli.

“I didn’t hear anything.”

“Then prick up your ears and come and take the horse.”

He’d have to make room for it first, growled the fellow, and shot in among his horses like a hawk in a pigeon-house, so that they dashed at their mangers and kicked, and Uli only by constant “Whoas” and at risk of life got Blazer into the last stall.  There he could find no halter for a time.

“Should have brought one,” was the carter’s remark.  When Uli went back to the sleigh and untied his box, the wood-cutters were to help him carry it; but for a long time none stirred.  Finally they dispatched the boy, who let the handle go when they were on the stairs, so that Uli almost tumbled down backward and only owed it to his strength that he did not.  The room to which he was shown was not bright, was unheated, and provided with two beds.  He stood in it somewhat depressed, until they called to him to come down and get something warm to eat.  Outside, a cheerful, pretty girl received him, nutbrown of hair and eyes, red and white as to cheeks, with kissable lips, blinding white teeth, tall and strong, yet slender in build, with a serious face behind which lurked both mischief and good nature.