"Well, what shall we do now?" asked Hänsli.
"I don't care," grumbled the cannoneer.
"I think we'd better walk on to Bischoffshardt."
"I don't care."
"Oh darn! There comes Theresa! That means a lecture for us."
"I don't care."
There was no lecture at all, only a kind request for an explanation of their curious behaviour. Why had they crawled like snails as if they intended to miss the coach? For ten long minutes she had succeeded in holding the postillion, but she could not take it upon herself to make him wait longer still. How did they intend to manage now? The young lady's opinion was that all three children might walk on together. She had walked the whole distance from Bischoffshardt to Schoenthal twice before. So, if they thought the same…?
"Well, all right, but… didn't she take the coach?" Gerold asked.
"She absolutely refused to go in it without you. There she is, on the stairs.
"A fine business! A fine business indeed! The stage is gone. The stage is missed," mocked Gesima, raising her hands with a despairing gesture. Whereupon all three set out on their way.
"A pleasant journey!" called Theresa after them. "Don't you want to take something to eat? Some pears or plums, or anything you like?"
"We don't need anything. And thank you very much for everything."
63
