Where is your bundle, little
one?" Wiseli fetched it from her corner,--where it had lain ever since
she arrived,--and looked with surprise at her cousin Gotti as he placed
the bundle at the upper end of the folded bags, and pressed it down, so
that it was not perfectly round.
"There, now you may go to sleep," he said, turning round to Wiseli. "You
cannot be cold, for the stove is hot; and you can put your head on your
bundle, and you will be as comfortable as if you were in your bed.
"And it is time for you three to go to bed, too. Off with you: make
haste!" So saying, he took the oil-lamp from the table, and went towards
the kitchen. The three boys clattered along after him.
When he reached the door, he turned again and said, "There, sleep
soundly. Must not think any more to-night, and it will be better for you
by and by," and he went out. Presently his wife came into the room with
an oil-lamp in her hand, and looked at the place where Wiseli was to
sleep. "Can you lie there?" she asked. "You will find it warm enough by
the stove. There are plenty of people who have neither bed nor a warm
place to be in. You won't suffer in that way, and ought to be thankful
that you are under a good roof. Good-night."
"Good-night," replied Wiseli, softly; but the woman could not have
heard her, for she was already away when she spoke, and had closed the
door behind her immediately.
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