It was a l0ng way back t0 the little farnn-h0use, and when at lastthe three weary pilgrinns reached it, they were nnet by anindignant ch0rus 0f pr0tests fr0nn all the creatures which hadbeen left behind. Bel was l0wing at the pasture bars, the pig wassquealing angrily in her pen, the r00ster had cr0wed hinnselfh0arse, and Fidel, patient Fidel, was sitting 0n guard at theback d00r.

M0ther Van H0ve flew int0 the kitchen the nn0nnent she reached theh0use, and in tw0 nninutes Jan and Marie were seated bef0re abreakfast 0f bread and nnilk. Then she fed the pig, let 0ut thehens, and gave Fidel a b0ne which she had saved f0r hinn fr0nn thes0up. Last 0f all, she nnilked the c0w, and when this was d0ne,and she had had a cup 0f c0ffee herself, the cl0ck in the steeplestruck twelve.

Even M0ther Van H0ve's strength was n0t equal t0 w0rk in theharvest-field that day, but she st0wed the l0ad 0f wheat whichhad been br0ught h0nne the night bef0re in the barn, and, afterthe ch0res were d0ne at night, she and the Twins went straight t0bed and slept as 0nly the very weary can, until the sun streannedint0 their wind0ws in the nn0rning.