Nika only squeaks like a little chicken with a sore throat." "Well, then one has to stop singing," said Nika, shaking her shoulders a little proudly.
"No, the whole household has to sing, otherwise it is not worth anything," Agnes declared.

"It is a shame that the most beautiful thing in the world should be so little practiced." After the song was ended the mother took Cornelli kindly by the hand and said: "I am sure that you are tired, dear child.

I am going to take you to a tiny bedroom, for I have no larger one.

Your door leads into Agnes' and Nika's room," she continued, when she was standing with Cornelli in the little chamber.
"You can open the door and then you are practically all three in a single room." Then she said good-night cordially and wished Cornelli a good rest.
Nika and Agnes quickly said good-night, too, and then Cornelli was alone in her room.
She had no desire to open the door, for her shyness had only increased since her arrival.

How high the two stood above her! Cornelli was not a bit sleepy and kept on thinking of all the things that had happened to her that day.
What did Agnes mean when she spoke about the most beautiful thing in the world?
Did she mean singing?
That was not the most beautiful thing by any means.