hurried so and should have stayed another day.  So amid much talk they finally reached their little wagon and continued talking as they drove away, Freneli telling her aunt all that she had noticed, which was indeed not a little; for she had seen many things of which she said, “If I was younger and could work better I’d have that too.”  To all this Uli said nothing, and only paid such strict attention to his Blackie, which he made trot so sharply that his mistress finally said, “Uli, is anything the matter with you?  Aren’t you driving Blackie too hard?  He’s not used to running so.”  Uli excused himself and received orders to stop when they had gone something more than halfway. * * *

Without paying attention to the conversation of the two women, Uli drove to the designated inn.  The hostess welcomed them and led them into a special room, as the mother had desired, after telling Uli to come right in.  Then she ordered wine and a couple of plates with something to eat; driving had made them hungrier than they would have believed possible.

The order was brought, but Uli was missing.  The hostess had been sent out after him, and came back and said she had told him; but still he did not come.  Then the mistress said, “Go, Freneli, and tell him to come at once.”  Freneli hesitated and thought they oughtn’t to compel him; if he was hungry or thirsty he’d come all right.  “If you won’t go,” said her aunt, “I’ll have to go myself.”  Then Freneli went out in a temper, and with stinging words drove Uli along, who had been standing in the sulks by the bowling alley and had at first refused to come.  He could stay where he was, for all of her, she said; but her aunt had ordered it.  It was she that wanted him to come; she herself, Freneli, had no desire to run after him any more.

Uli came at last, giving little answer to the many reproaches of his mistress for having to be forced to come.  But she filled his glass heartily, forced him to eat, and kept up a chatter of talk—­how well she had liked it at Cousin Johannes’ house, and how she could now see where Uli had got his training.  But he must have been especially good to them, too, for the children still hung upon him and their parents loved him almost like a son.  “I suppose you’ll want to go back to them, when you leave us.”

“No,” said Uli.

“It’s not customary to ask, to be sure; but will you tell me where you are going?” asked his mistress.

“I don’t know yet,” said Uli; “I haven’t been in a hurry to take a place, although I could have had several.”

“Well then, stay with us; that’s the best thing for both of us; we’re accustomed to each other now.”

“I hope you won’t take it ill of me,” he said; “but I don’t intend to be a servant any more.”

“Have you something else?” she asked.

“No,” he answered.

“Well, if you don’t want to be a servant any more, suppose we make you tenant on our farm.”