“Shall we sit, Mr. Walden?” she asked, leading the way to seats and bringing tea and cake.
“I enjoyed your description of life in the country, and the young ladies were delighted,” she said.
“We have pretty good times with the quiltings, huskings, and sleighing parties, when we pile into a double pung, ride in the moonlight, have supper, and a dance.”
“How delightful! Have you brothers and sisters?”
“Only a sister, Rachel, two years younger than I.”
“Does she love flowers?”
“Yes, she is very fond of them. I make up beds in the garden for her and she sows bachelor’s-buttons, flytraps, pansies, marigolds, hollyhocks, and has morning-glories running over strings around the sitting-room window.”
“They must make your home very pleasant in summer.”
“Yes, and she has asters and sweet peas. I try to keep the weeds down for her as she has so many things to look after,—the chickens, goslins, young turkeys, besides washing dishes, spinning, and wetting the cloth bleaching on the grass. I help a little by drawing the water.”
“It must be very beautiful in the country these September days.”