When they at last got into the wagon, half of the town had gathered about the inn, in order to have a look at the crown prince's nurse. Doctor Kumpan ordered the postillion, who was not in uniform, to take his post-horn with him, and the handsome, dark-eyed, lively fellow blew his horn while they drove through the little town and along the road. The merry echoes resounded from the mountains and through the forests. Walpurga was almost ashamed to drive in this style, while the people were at work along the road; but Hansei felt a childish delight in the sound of the horn. At last they caught a glimpse of the lake. Evening was already setting in. "Those are swallows from home," said Walpurga. "The next village is ours. I see the church, and--hark! I hear the bells! I hear them with you, my child, and soon you'll hear them, in my arms; and your voice--your voice--coachman, drive faster; no, drive gently; drive just as you please, so that we don't upset. Stop here; we'll get out now. Stop! I tell you." She alighted, but as soon as she had done so, she exclaimed: "No, I'll get in again. We'll get home sooner if we ride. But why don't mother and the child come out to meet me?" "She thinks we won't be home till to-morrow," cried Hansei. "Then maybe she isn't at home at all, and has gone off with the child to visit some neighbor." "Maybe so; but I think not." "Don't you see a child there, running across the road? Is that it? Is it?" "No, that's not our child. It can't run yet; but it can crawl about like a young dog." "Who cut down the willow?" suddenly asked Walpurga. "It was blown down by the storm, last spring." Walpurga asked questions, but heeded not what she asked nor the answers she received. "Just see, how clear the brook is, and how swiftly it flows. I think it never used to flow so quickly. And they've built a new house here, and there they've felled the trees, and, just look at the beautiful little water-wagtails. They're larger and more beautiful with us than anywhere else." They met a boy on a gray mare which he was riding to water. "That's Grubersepp's Waldl. How stout he's growing!" "And it's a good beginning, that the first one to meet us should be a boy," said Hansei. "Waldl!" he called out to the lad, "come over to our house this evening and I'll give you some cherries." The boy made no reply and rode on. "The two cows grazing there near the little girl, are ours," said Hansei. Everything comes; everything except the mother and the child. "Mother's at home," cried Walpurga, suddenly. "Mother's at home. I see smoke rising from our chimney; and there she stands by the fire with the child on her arms. Oh mother! Oh child! How is it possible that you don't notice anything? I'm coming! I'm here! I'm home! I'm coming!" The wagon stopped before the house. "Mother! Child!" cried Walpurga from the depths of her heart. The mother came out of the house, with the child on her arm.