Ferdinand went directly to his room after coffee was served. It was on the opposite side of the house, on the ground floor; the farm-house was but one story high, with a lofty attic above. In one corner of the large bedroom stood a canopied bed of dark wood, elaborately painted in bright colors, on head and foot board, with designs of flowers and birds. There were two small, stiff-backed wooden chairs, a night-table, upon which stood a brass candlestick, and an enormous wardrobe or chest for his clothes. All the furnishings of the room, even to the rug by the bed, were the handiwork of the occupants of the farm-house, for no true Austrian peasant would condescend to purchase these household necessities from a shop. Between two voluminous feather beds Ferdinand slept soundly, nor did he stir until he heard voices in the garden. Hastily dressing, he made his way into the living-room, where breakfast had already been partaken of by the others. "I'm so sorry to be late," he apologized, shamefacedly. "Why didn't you call me, mother?" he asked, as he turned to the one who must naturally share the responsibility of her children's shortcomings. "We thought to let you have your rest," answered Frau Müller. "Your day will be very full. You evidently enjoyed your downy bed." "Oh, it was great; let _us_ get one, mother." "I used to sleep under one when I was a girl," replied Frau Müller, "but no one in the city uses them any more; the woolly blankets have quite superceded them." "You may take yours home with you, if you like," said Frau Runkel, "we have geese enough to make more." "Now," said Herr Runkel, "if you are all ready, we'll go over and pay our respects to father and mother." "Then your parents do not live with you?" asked Herr Müller, a little astonished. "No, that is not the custom among us. You see, when I got married, father made over the farm and all its appurtenances to me, being the eldest son; then he built himself another home, just over in the field, there," and Herr Runkel pointed to a tiny, cosy cottage some few hundred paces away. "What a splendid thing to be the eldest son," remarked Herr Müller. "Perhaps it is," replied his host, "but it entails a great responsibility, as well. You see, after the ceremony of deeding the farm away to me, _I_ am called upon to settle an allowance upon my parents during their lifetime." "That's but right," assented Herr Müller, "seeing that they have given you everything they possess, and which they have acquired with such toil and privation."