Freneli would have continued indefinitely if they had not hitched up and driven on.  They advanced rapidly.  Uli had much to tell as to who owned this house or that field.  As he saw the first of Johannes’ fields, his heart laughed within him.  All that he had formerly done there came back to him; from a distance he pointed everything out, and praised its good qualities.  Then came another field and still another, and they were driving up to the house before they knew it.  Johannes’ people were busy putting up sauerkraut in the front shed; the whole household was gathered there.  All raised their heads as the unexpected little wagon came along.  At first the strangers were not recognized; then the cry arose:  “It’s Uli, it’s Uli,” and the children sprang down from the porch; then Johannes said, “Cousin Joggeli’s wife is with him!  What the dickens has got into her?  What does she want?”

He and his wife now stepped forward and reached up their hands in welcome, and his wife said, “God bless you, Uli, are you bringing your wife with you?”

Then the mistress laughed heartily again, and said, “There you have it, whether you will or no; that’s the way it is; why, everybody says so.”

“Everywhere they take us for a wedding party,” explained Uli, “because we’re driving along on Saturday, when so many folks get married.”

“Ho, and not only that,” said Johannes, “but it strikes me that you wouldn’t make a bad couple.”

“You hear, Freneli,” said her aunt, “Johannes says so too; there’s no use fighting it any more.”

With Freneli tears had been contending with smiles, anger with jest; finally she gained the mastery over herself, so as not to make a scene before strangers, and replied, “I’ve always heard that if there was to be a marriage, two people had to want it; but in this case nobody wants it, and so I don’t see how anything is to come of it.”

“What isn’t, can be,” said Johannes’ wife; “such things often come unexpectedly.”

“I don’t feel any traces of it,” said Freneli, but then broke off and held out her hand again, saying how bold it had been of her to go along; but her aunt had wished it, and she could make the excuses if they were put to expense.

“I’m very glad you’ve come,” said the housewife, and urgently bade them come in, although the visitors, said they would not keep her from her work, but would stay outside, it was so nice and pleasant in the open.  But, protest as they might that they needed nothing and had just eaten, a fire was made and only by a thrice repeated trip to the kitchen could a, formal meal be prevented, and hospitality reduced to a pot of coffee.  Freneli had soon made friends with the oldest daughter, who had grown from an active child into a beautiful young girl, and had to inspect all her treasures.  Out of due respect, Uli soon withdrew, and the older people were left alone.