"Yes, and two more in the pasture. I believe the work is well advanced for the season. I wrote you about the new man I had hired."
"Yes, and I shall want to hear all about it in the morning. My long walk from the landing has heated me terribly."
"Your room is in order if you would like to go to it before tea. I will have the north chamber ready in a few minutes."
"No, Hannah, stay here please," exclaimed Gertrude, "and I'll run up and open the blinds. You know, Ned, she keeps the house in such perfect order there is nothing else to do."
She flew up stairs almost like a bird, her voice breaking out into a strain of warbling, which with a thought of the stranger, was instantly checked. Seizing two tiny silver vases, filled with delicately tinted flowers, from her own room, she carried them to the guest-chamber; then throwing open the blinds on the north side let in the refreshing breeze. One minute more to fill the large china pitcher with fresh water; and then she gayly announced that the rooms were ready.
"Ned," exclaimed Paul, the instant they were alone, "confess at once that you have been deceiving me all these years. How dared you tell me your sister was ignorant, unformed, a Gypsy and so on? She is the most perfect specimen of humanity that it has ever been my fortune to meet. Then what refinement! Only think, Ned, what a home she'd make for a man; think of her arch glances and bewitching smiles."
"She has greatly improved within a year;" was Wallingford's grave reply, "more than I dared to hope. She is not yet sixteen. By the time she is twenty-two or three, I believe she will resemble our mother."
Without another word he turned to his own room, leaving his companion examining the flowers, and wondering whether Gertrude had placed them there, before she knew of his coming.
An hour later they were seated in the hall, around the abundant board. In the centre a huge glass dish of raspberries was well flanked by a pitcher of cream.
"These are delicious," exclaimed Edward, helping himself and his friend to a bountiful supply.