For as soon as Marget understood that not only was Elsli to be provided with a home for life, but that the help which she might have afforded her parents as she grew older was to be made good to them, she was overjoyed.

She said that Elsli was not fit for hard work, and that the care of the little boys was quite beyond her, especially since Hans was growing more and more troublesome.

So she gladly agreed to let her go, with the understanding that she should return home at least once a year for a visit.
In an incredibly short time the whole village was in possession of the news that the wealthy Mrs.Stanhope had offered to take Elsli home with her, and to keep her as her own child always; and that they were to start for the villa on the Rhine the very next day.

The excitement produced by this news was intense.

Wherever two neighbors met on the road, they stopped to talk over the good-luck that had happened to Elsli.