Lippo and Maezli arrived at that moment, loudly announcing the important news that Kathy was going to serve the soup in a moment and that the table was not even set.
The mother had put off preparations for dinner on purpose.

During the foregoing conversation she had repeatedly glanced towards the little garden gate to see if Bruno was not coming, but he could not be seen yet.
So she began to set the table with Mea, while Lippo, too, assisted her.
The little boy knew exactly where everything belonged.

He put it there in the most orderly fashion, and when Mea put a fork or spoon down quickly a little crookedly, he straightway put them perfectly straight the way they belonged.
Kurt laughed out loud, "Oh, Lippo, you must become an inn-keeper, then all your tables will look as if they had been measured out with a compass." "Leave Lippo alone," said the mother.

"I wish you would all do your little tasks as carefully as he does." Dinner was over and the mother was looking out towards the road in greater anxiety, but Bruno had not come.
"Now he comes with a big whip," Kurt shouted suddenly.

"Something must have happened, for one does not usually need a whip in school." The younger boy opened the door, full of expectation.