The young man, blushing deeply, returned to his work with redoubled zeal, so that it was soon completed.
"What comes next?" asked Catherine.
"I intended to go up into the woods to look after my pine trees. There will be probably more to do there than here, where my kind uncle has kept every thing so well in order. But about woodcraft he understands little or nothing; and Conrad concerns himself only with his hunting. It was fortunate that I could do the chief labor before I left home in the spring."
He hung the gun, which leaned against the hedge near him, over his shoulder and looked at Catherine.
Lingering he said: "Will you go with me? It is not far."
"That is truly fortunate," said Catherine. "You know I am shy of long roads. Will you not rather saddle Hans?"
She called the horse, grazing in an enclosure near by, in which there was also a small flock of black-wooled sheep. He pricked up his ears, came slowly, swinging his tail, and put his head over the bars.
"You good Hans," said Catherine, brushing the thick forelock out of the eyes of the animal, "I gave you a good deal of trouble on the long journey."
"The trouble was not so very great. Is it not so, old Hans?" said Lambert.
Hans seemed to think that to such an idle question no answer was necessary and went on quietly chewing his last mouthful of grass. The young people stood and looked on and stroked the head and neck of the animal, while in the branches of a blossoming apple tree a robin-redbreast sang. Their hands touched. Lambert's large eyes assumed a determined expression and then were raised with a cordial look to the blushing face of the maiden.