"Here I have tried for several days to visit the poor, lonely woman, and now it is too late," said Mrs. Ritter. "If I had only gone I should feel more reconciled to the loss." "It is a shame that Wiseli must go there," said Otto as he paced the floor with his hands clenched. "I tell you if I catch him abusing her, he will need to count his ribs to see if any are left." "Of whom are you speaking in that fashion?" asked Mrs. Ritter. "Of Chappi. Think of the mean things that he can do to her now that she has to live in the same house with him. It is unjust and ought not to be allowed. I'll attend to him if I find out that--" Just then Otto's voice was nearly drowned by a loud stamping behind the stove, and he paused to say, "What are you making such an outlandish noise for, you Miez behind the stove?" Miezi came out in sight of the others, her cheeks flaming red from the heat of the stove combined with her exertions in trying to get her feet into a pair of wet shoes which Trina had but a short time before taken off with the greatest difficulty. She continued her efforts, but managed to say, "You can see that I have to do it; no one on earth could put on these things without stamping." "Why must they be put on, when I have just taken the pains to get you out of them?" asked Trina. "I am going to Beechgreen to get Wiseli; she can have my bed," replied Miezi, with a finality that seemed to admit of no interference. Her operations were nevertheless cut short by Trina, who picked her up in her arms and carried her to a chair. "That is nice of you, Miezchen," she said, "but I had better do that errand for you. There is no reason why you should wear out your shoes getting ready. You can let Wiseli have your bed and you can go to the attic to sleep. There is plenty of room up there." This, however, was not in harmony with Miezi's plans; she had solved the sleeping problem to her own as well as to Wiseli's advantage, for nothing else would suit her so well as never to have to go to bed. So long as she could remember, she had always been sent to bed when she wanted very much to be up. It soon became evident to Miezi, not only that Trina was keeping her from going to Wiseli, but that she had no intention of going in her place. When Trina frankly refused to go, Miezi cried so bitterly that Otto put his hands over his ears, and the mother came to make terms of peace. She promised to talk the matter over with papa just as soon as he and Uncle Max returned from a long-contemplated visit at a friend's house some distance away. It was four days later when the colonel and Uncle Max returned. The children brought the subject of Wiseli's coming to live with them before the father at once, and he promised to investigate the conditions the next morning.