But he was glad that the sad Erick also got some, for he thought that that must comfort him.
In the evening of this Sunday, Erick sat in the midst of the pastor's family around the four-cornered sitting-room table, as snugly and familiarly as if he long since belonged there.

He had been treated, the whole afternoon, with such kindness by all, that his whole heart, which had been accustomed to a mother's great love, opened, and he felt more happy than he had in all the sad days since he had had to miss this love.

Sally did not know how she could do enough to give him pleasure.
Now she had brought the most beautiful picture book that she owned, and Erick looked with her at the pictures, which she eagerly explained to him; all the time beaming with joy that everything, she had believed lost, had come to her; that Erick was in the midst of them at home like a near friend, and was to stay over the night, for the father had arranged that at once.
Edi sat over his history book and Ritz had a book of his own before him, but looked over it at Sally and listened to her explanation.

Now Edi lifted his head--he must have come upon something very particular.
"Papa," he said, "now I know for certain what I want to be: a sea-captain.

Then I can sail around the world, for _sometime_ I must see all the lands where all these things have happened." "So, I thought you wanted to be a professor of history," remarked the father, not much disturbed by this piece of news.
"I want to be that, too," said Ritz, "I, too, want to sail in ships." "No, you see, Ritz, two brothers must not be the same thing, else they get in each other's way," instructed Edi.
"Then I will be a sea-robber, they too sail in ships," Ritz comforted himself.
"We will not hope anything of the kind," said the father behind his church paper.
"And do you remember, Ritz, what I once told you about Julius Caesar ?" Edi reminded him.