all between us."

Stineli herself was very much discouraged now; but as they went around
the corner into the field, the little pathway that led to their doors
shone so prettily in the bright sunlight, and the plat before the houses
was so white and dry, that she called out,--

"See, see! now it is summer, Rico; and we can go up into the wood, and
we will be happy again. Shall we go next Sunday?"

"Nothing will ever make me happy again," said Rico; "but if you want to
go, I will go with you."

When they reached the door, they had arranged to go to the wood on the
following Sunday, and Stineli was very happy at the thought. She did all
that she was able to do through the week, and there was a great deal of
work for her. Peterli, Sami, and Urschli had the measles, and in the
stable one of the goats was sick, and needed hot water very often; and
Stineli had to run hither and thither, lending a helping hand in every
direction as soon as she came home from school, and on Saturday all day
long until late in the evening; and then there were the stable buckets
to be cleaned. But that night her father said,--

"Stineli _is_ a handy child."




CHAPTER IV.