What he had said, she answered, didn’t amount to anything; she knew that he had to talk at times.  And Freneli also comforted her, telling her not to take it so hard; things always turned out better than one expected.  But she shook her head and bade them let her alone; she would have to compose herself—­talking was no use.  For many days following she sought composure.  They saw her going about silently as if she were revolving grave things in her mind, or sitting apart now and then when she thought herself unnoticed, her hands in her lap, and picking up from time to time the tip of her apron and wiping her eyes with the wrong side of it.  Finally her spirits became lighter; the state of uncertainty seemed to leave her; she said she felt much better, but she thought she’d like to go away somewhere; she had such an unsatisfied longing, and she believed she’d get over it if she could get away for a day or two.  This time Joggeli had no objection; his old wife had made even him anxious.  She could go either to her son or her daughter, whichever she wished!  Uli would drive her, for he had plenty of time now, said he.

No, she didn’t want to go there, she said; there was everlasting quarreling there, and even if she filled her pockets with thalers, she wouldn’t have enough.  She thought she’d like to visit cousin Johannes; they had long promised him a visit, but hadn’t kept the promise and she had never been there.  She would see a new road and an unfamiliar country, and could perhaps best forget what was grieving her.  She wanted to take Freneli along; she too hadn’t been away for a long time.  They hadn’t taken her with them to Elsie’s wedding, and it was only fair to give the girl a pleasure once in a while.

To the latter plan Joggeli had many objections; but this time he gave in for his old wife’s sake and agreed to get along for a couple of days.  In a glory of color the withered leaves hung on the trees, in the gleam of their own after-glow; below them, in cheerful green, lay the young crops, and played merrily with the winking dew-drops that clung to their tips; and over everything the sky spread itself, mysterious and fragrant, the impenetrable source of God’s wonders.  Black crows were flying across the fields; green woodpeckers hung on the trees; fleet squirrels ran across the road and, hastily gaining a branch, peeped out curiously at the passing travelers, while high in the air the snow-geese sailed on toward a, warmer country in their well-ordered triangle, and their strange travel-song floated strangely down from their lofty height.

The mother’s judicious eyes roved actively over the whole scene; there was no end to her comments, and she and Uli exchanged many a shrewd remark.  Especially when they drove through the villages did the noteworthy things become legion, and there were few houses that did not offer her opportunity for comment.  To sit at home all the time was no use, said she; one always kept seeing the same things.