The farmer and his spouse had never seen De Vlierbeck so pleasant and so
gay; and, as they sincerely loved their master, they were as much
delighted by his joy as if they had been preparing for a village fair in
which they were to take part. They never dreamed of pay for their
generous toil, but derived their most grateful recompense from the
pleasure they imparted to the hermit and his child.

As soon as the principal preparations were completed, De Vlierbeck
called his daughter and gave the necessary instructions for the dinner.
Lenora was to confine herself to drilling the farmer's wife in serving
the dishes with which she was not familiar. The old cooking-apparatus
was lighted; wood kindled and crackled in the chimney; coals glistened
in the grate; and high above the roof-tree, clouds of smoke betokened
the good cheer that was to adorn the tables. Baskets of game were
opened; stuffed poultry, savory pasties, and choice viands, were brought
forth; dishes of green peas, beans, and other vegetables, appeared; and
the women were speedily in a turmoil of stringing, shelling, cutting,
washing, and stewing.

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,--