"We can talk the question of boarding over again another time," she remarked as she was going away; "when the time comes, my husband's preparation for the future will be welcome, I am sure." When the mother, after escorting her guest, came back to the children's room, Maezli immediately called out, "Did she say if the two are still locked up ?" "What are you inventing, Maezli ?" said the mother.

"You probably don't know yourself what it means." "Oh, yes, I know," Maezli assured her.

"I asked her if the boys were still locked up because Kurt said that." Kurt laughed out loud: "Oh, you naughty child to talk so wild! Because I say that those two ought to be locked up, Maezli runs over and immediately asks their mother that question." Mrs.Maxa now understood clearly where her visitor had heard about her boy's behaviour of yesterday.
"Maezli," she said admonishingly, "have you forgotten that you are not to ask questions of grown-up people who come to see me ?" "But why shouldn't I ask what the locked-up children are doing ?" Maezli declared, feigning great pity in her voice.
"Now the foxy little thing wants to incline mother to be comforted by pretending to pity them," Kurt declared.
Suddenly a terrific shout of joy sounded from all voices at once as they all called: "Uncle Phipp! Uncle Phipp!" In a moment they had disappeared through the door.
Kurt jumped out through the window, which was not dangerous for him and was the shortest way to the street.

The mother also ran outside to greet Uncle Phipp who was her only brother.

He lived on his estate in Sils valley, which was famous for its fruit.