"I was about to suggest that you take dinner with us," said their host.
"It is quite a distance to the next public house."

"What will you have for dinner, Mr. Swan?"

"Liverwurst, roast potatoes, stewed pears, and warm brown bread with
butter."

"I love every one of those things," remarked Franz.

"What will the dinner cost each of us?" asked Fritz.

"What would it cost?" echoed the innkeeper as if reflecting. "Oh, we
will not talk of that. All I can say is that we wish every one who eats
here to have plenty, and after the meal is over we can tell better what
it is worth."

"We will stay," said the boys jubilantly, and removed their knapsacks.
When dinner was served their host led the way to the dining-room and
gave them places, and took his own. His wife was already at the table,
then followed Letta and Peter. The landlord removed his skull-cap, bowed
his head reverently as did the others and asked a blessing upon the
meal; then he and his wife told the boys to help themselves, which they
did forthwith from the large plates well-filled which they had placed
before them.

Peter, who sat opposite, was filled with admiration of their powers of
endurance, and said to himself, as the viands disappeared with
astonishing celerity, "How much will it take to fill them when they are
men? They make me think of our William when he was a growing boy, and