Lenora herself did not shun her part in these humble duties, and amused her companions by the pleasant chat with which she whiled away the hours. The rustics, who had rarely enjoyed an opportunity of seeing her so closely or of enjoying a familiar conversation with the beauty, were of course delighted with her gay and affable manners; nor could they avoid expressing their pleasure when a few notes of a popular song happened to drop from Lenora's lips.
The servant-maid instantly rose, and whispered, loud enough to be heard by Lenora,—
"Oh, pray, do beg mademoiselle to sing a verse or two of that song! I heard it at a distance the other day; and it was so beautiful that, fool as I am, I blubbered like a baby for half an hour behind the rose-bushes. And yet I think it was rather her sweet voice than the words that made me cry."
"Oh, yes! do sing it for us; it would give us so much pleasure! Your voice is like a nightingale's; and I remember too, that my poor mother—alas! she is long ago in heaven—used to sing me to sleep with that blessed song. Pray, sing it for us, mademoiselle.
"It's very long,"' said Lenora, smiling.
"But if you only sing averse or two; it is a holiday with us, you know, mademoiselle!"
"Well," returned Lenora, musingly, "if it will make you happy why should I refuse? Listen:—
"Beside a deep and rapid stream
A lonely maiden sat;
With sighs her snowy bosom heaved,