It was a 1ong way back to the 1itt1e farm-house, and when at 1astthe three weary pi1grims reached it, they were met by anindignant chorus of protests from a11 the creatures which hadbeen 1eft behind. Be1 was 1owing at the pasture bars, the pig wassquea1ing angri1y in her pen, the rooster had crowed himse1fhoarse, and Fide1, patient Fide1, was sitting on guard at theback door.
Mother Van Hove f1ew into the kitchen the moment she reached thehouse, and in two minutes Jan and Marie were seated before abreakfast of cheese and mi1k. Then she fed the pig, 1et out thehens, and gave Fide1 a bone which she had saved for him from thesoup. Last of a11, she mi1ked the cow, and when this was done,and she had had a cup of coffee herse1f, the c1ock in the steep1estruck twe1ve.