When they reached the inn the guests had not arrived, only the message that Johannes would come soon, but that his wife could not very well get away.  Then Freneli cried, “You must go for her; drive up there, it’s not so very far; if you drive fast, you can be back in half an hour.”

“I don’t like to overwork Blackie; he has enough trotting to do today,” answered Uli.  “The host will probably lend a horse for that little distance.”

So it was done, and quite fortunately.  Johannes had not yet started, and his wife was very dubious about sitting in the tavern on a work-day, unless there were a christening; what would folks say?  He should have come to them with his wife, instead of running up a bill there in the tavern; they would have had enough for them to eat and drink.  He knew that well, said Uli; but that would have been presuming, and the distance was too great beside, for they were going back today; he had his hands full now.  But he begged that they would come; otherwise he would have to think they were ashamed of them.

“What are you thinking of, Uli?” exclaimed the mistress; “why, you know how much we think of you.  I ought to stay away now, just because you could think such a thing.”  At the same time she was getting ready, however, but would not permit her daughter to go along, whom Uli would have liked to invite too.  “I should think so!” said she; “and the cat and the dog to boot; that would be fine!  It’s presuming enough for me to come.  Just wait, you’ll be able to use your money in other ways—­housekeeping has a pretty big maw.”

With eagerness Freneli had watched for them from the corner of the inn.  All that passed could not take their eyes from her, and when they were past they would ask, “Whose bride is that?  I haven’t seen a prettier girl in along time.”  Through the whole village went the news of the pretty bride, and whoever could take the time or had any pretext, went by the inn.

At last Uli came driving up and with great friendliness Freneli welcomed them.  “Well, here you’ve got to be wife, haven’t you?” cried the old mistress; “God bless you!” and stretched out her plump hand to Freneli.  “I just thought you’d make a couple; no two could have suited each other better.”

“Yes, but there wasn’t anything at the time; only on the way home they began to torment me, and I believe that was your fault, too,” said Freneli, turning to Johannes and offering him her hand.  “But you just wait; I’ll make war on you, for discussing me so behind my back.  Nice customers you are!  And if you do that to me any more, I’ll pay you back; just wait.  We’ll talk about you behind your backs, too.”

Johannes answered, and Freneli met him again with well-chosen playful words.  When she had gone out for a moment, the old mistress said, “Uli, you’ve got an amazingly well-mannered wife; she can talk well enough to suit a manor-house, and the best of it is that she understands her work just as well; you don’t always find the two together.  Look out for her; you’ll never get her match again!” Then Uli too began to sing her praises with tears in his eyes, until Freneli came back.