But Fritz was weeping too bitterly to make explanations, and his aunt had to speak for him.

“I have no objection to the dog staying,” replied Mr. Steerer kindly, “providing he does not bark and annoy my tenant on the second floor.”

“Now, Pixy, thank the gentleman for his kindness,” said Aunt Fanny, and immediately the intelligent animal sat upon his hind feet and waved his right fore foot back and forth.

“But you must speak,” commanded Fritz, who was smiling through his tears, whereupon Pixy gave a sharp little bark while again waving his paw.

“Now we will call and ask Mrs. Hagner if your dog can stay,” said Aunt Fanny when they reached the door of the old lady’s apartments and gently tapped.

“Come in!  Come in!” laughed a voice within, “and I am pretty sure that I know why you have come.”

Fritz felt so relieved at their pleasant reception that he made the explanation.

“Certainly, certainly, I will not object,” replied Mrs. Hagner.  “I do not like dogs, but I do like my neighbor and I like boys; so taking these two likings together, you see they are too strong to be mastered by the one dislike.”

“Thank the lady for her kindness, Pixy,” said Fritz gleefully and it was done, not omitting the bark, and aunt and nephew went with light hearts up the steps to the third floor to tell the anxious Franz and Paul the result of their visit.

“Now, children,” said Mrs. Steiner, “let us lay that care and all others aside and be happy.  I am rejoiced to see you all, and hope to make you have a pleasant visit.  But you must also do your share to make it so by being satisfied with what I can do to entertain you.  You must be contented with the few pleasures I can offer.  And now tell me, Fritz, why you are wearing a rain-coat on a clear day,” and Fritz explained the situation in a few words.

“Well, dear Fritz, we must sometimes have shadow instead of sunshine, thorns instead of roses; and you must not let this mar your pleasure.  I am glad to see young, cheerful people about me; it makes me feel young again.”

The boys looked at each other with a satisfied smile.  They felt that it was the right kind of a welcome, and Fritz was proud of his father’s sister.

“Now you can take your knapsacks into my spare-bedroom,” she continued, opening the door of a pleasant apartment.  At that moment to the joy of Fritz, a porter from the depot brought his satchel, and at the request of Mrs. Steiner placed it in their room.  He lost no time in taking out a pair of trousers, putting the patched ones in the trunk, and then the three returned to the sitting-room which was also dining-room.

“Now, boys,” said Mrs. Steiner, “I was just preparing supper for myself when you came, and all I will have to do is to add something more substantial for three travelers.  But first I must ask how it happened that you did not write at least a postal to let me know you were coming?  I might have been away from home.  Then what would you have done?”