It is wrong to call Loneli raggedy; few people are as honest and agreeable as Apollonie and her grandchild." Mea was ready with many more complaints, for whenever anything bothered her, she felt the need to tell her mother.

She realized, though, that she had to put off further communications for a quiet evening hour.
Bruno had approached, and turning to his mother, asked in great suspense: "Mother, what did Mr.Rector write to you?
Have the plum-thieves been discovered ?" "I do not think that they have brought his decision about, but I am sure they hastened it.

Read the letter," said his mother, handing it to him.
"That is not so bad," Bruno said after reading it.

"As soon as you send me to town I shall be rid of them at last, and I won't have to bother about them any more.

You know, mother, that all they care about is to do mean and nasty things." "But they will go to town, too, and then you will be thrown together.
There won't be anybody then who cares for you and will listen to you," the mother lamented.
"Do not worry, mother, the town is big and we won't be so close together.
I'll keep far enough away from them, you may be sure.