"Your promised husband, is he? Well, well, who would have thought it?" chattered the peasant woman, feeling highly honored at being the recipient of this interesting intelligence. "Yes, and he is now a wealthy gentleman," went on Vreni, "for he has just won a hundred thousand dollars in the lottery. Just think!" The woman gave a jump of surprise, threw up her hands, and shouted: "Hund--hundred thousand--Hund--" Vreni repeated it with a serious face. The woman grew still more excited. "Hundred thousand--well, well. But you are making fun of me, child. Hund--Is it possible?" "All right, as you choose," went on Vreni, still smiling. "But if it is true, and he gets all that money, what are you two going to do with it? Are you to become a stylish lady, or what?" "Of course, within three weeks our wedding takes place--such a wedding." "Oh, my goodness, is it possible? But no, you are telling me stories, I know." "Well, he has already bought the finest house in Seldwyla, with a fine vineyard and the biggest garden attached. And you must come and pay us a visit, after we're there--I count on it." "Why, what a witch you are," the woman went on between belief and unbelief. "You will see how nice it is there," continued Vreni unabashed. "A cup of coffee you'll get, such as you never drank before, and plenty of cake with it, of butter and honey." "Oh, you lucky duck!" shrieked the woman, "depend upon my coming, of course." And she made an eager face, as though she already saw spread before her all these dainties. "But if you should happen to come at noontime," went on Vreni in her fanciful tale, "and you would be tired from marketing, you shall have a bowl of strong broth and a bottle of our extra wine, the one with the blue seal." "That will certainly do me good," said the woman. "And there shall be no lack of some candy and white wheaten rolls, for your little ones at home." "I think I can taste it already," answered the woman, and she turned her eyes heavenwards. "Perhaps a pretty kerchief, or the remnant of a bolt of extra fine silk, or a costly ribbon or two for your skirts, or enough for an apron I suppose will be found, if we rummage in my drawers and trunks together sometime when we are talking things over." The woman turned completely on her heels and shook her skirts with a jubilant yodel. "And in case your husband could start in the cattle dealing way, and needed a bit of capital for it, you would know where to apply, would you not? My dear Sali will always be glad to invest some of his superfluous money in such a manner. And I myself might add a few pennies from my savings to help out a good and intimate gossip, you may be certain."