He told them now that he was ready to take them all on a walk.

Maezli was ready before anyone, because she had thrown everything into her box and then with a little pushing had been able to put on the lid.

This did not worry her further, so she ran towards the uncle.
"Maezli, you mustn't do that; no, you mustn't," Lippo called after her.
But the little girl stood already outside, holding her uncle's hand ready for the march.

Everybody else was ready, as they all had only had one object to put away, and the mother gave her orders to Kathy, the cook.
"Come, Lippo, don't stay behind!" the uncle called into the room.
"I have to finish first, then I'll come right away," the little boy called back.
The mother was ready to go, too, now.

"Where is Lippo ?" she asked, examining her little brood.
"He sits in there like a mole in his hole and won't come out," said Kurt "Shall I fetch him?
He'll come quickly enough then." "No, no," the mother returned.