But unluckily, what they wanted was under Battiste's charge.

So it was settled that Lili should ask him to help them, while Wili held on to the cat and dog, lest they should run away.
Battiste was out on the barn floor, arranging a collection of seeds.

Here Lili found him, and she planted herself before him with her hands behind her back, just as she had seen her papa stand, when giving orders.
"Battiste," she said very firmly, "where is the spout that is used to fill the tubs in the wash-house ?" Battiste lifted his face from his seeds, and looked curiously at Lili as she stood there, as if he were waiting to hear the question again; for he always took things moderately.

At last he replied with a question in his turn: "Did your mamma send you to ask me ?" "No, I came of my own self." "Then I don't know where the spout is." "But, Battiste, I only want a little water from the spring; why can't I have just that ?" "I know that kind of a little bird," said Battiste, grumblingly, "now a little water, and now a little fire, and always mischief.

Can't have it.
Can't give it to you." "Oh well, I don't care," said Lili, and went straight to the kitchen, where Trine was scouring pans.
"Trine, dear," said she coaxingly, "come and give me the water-spout.
Battiste won't let us have it.