She was seized with a desire to go too, and she suddenly burst into a loud scream, which increased every instant under Emma's scolding, and was only intensified by Fred's taunting song:-- "Hanseli is a cry-baby, Rikli is another; She's so exactly like him, He must be her brother." In the midst of this hubbub, the mother entered, and at once interposed her tranquillizing influence.

She lifted Rikli from the floor, where she sat in the midst of the luggage, and called the other two to sit quietly down at her side.

On this last evening, she said, she wanted to have a little peaceful time with them; and Emma and Fred were very glad to consult her about the various questions which lay on their minds, which they had meant to ask aunty about, when Oscar so unceremoniously usurped her.
As Rikli listened to the conversation which followed, and learned how many things her brother and sister were in doubt about,--as to their behavior in Mrs.Stanhope's house, and what they should say and do there, and what they could not,--she made up her mind that it was far better for her to stay quietly at home with her mother and aunty; and the prospect of walks and drives with them, and of the biggest share of all the cherry and apple cakes, seemed more attractive than the very doubtful circumstances in which the others would be placed.

So Rikli became quite reconciled to her lot, and was in good-humor again.
Oscar had meantime led his aunt into an unused bedroom on the ground floor, and, having locked the door for farther security from interruption, he announced that he had something very important to consult her about.

He had been all winter hunting for suitable mottoes for his new banner, and had pressed so many friends into the service, that he had collected no fewer than thirty-five beautiful mottoes, any one of which would have been perfectly satisfactory.