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, And tears bedewed the ground! "A noble walked along the bank And saw her bitter grief; And, as her tears overflowed his heart, It melted for the maid!" 'Speak, maiden, speak!' the wanderer cried! 'Why moan you here alone ?'-- 'Ah, sir, an orphan-child am I, Whom God alone can save! 'Ah! seest thou not yon grassy mound There sleeps my mother dear.
Behold yon rock, above the flood; There fell my father down! 'The whirling torrent bore him on; He struggled long in vain; My brother leaped to help his sire, And both together sank! 'And now I fly our silent hut, Where desolation dwells, To mourn upon this dreary bank, And watch the wave and grave!' 'No longer grieve,' the stranger said, 'Thy heart shall ache no more; A father and a brother too To thee, poor lonely girl, I'll be!' "He took her hand; he led her off; In garments rich he clad the maid; Before the altar promised love, And blessed her life in happy home!"[A] [Footnote A: This simple and popular ballad, known in the Campine as _The Orphan_, is sung by all classes to an air which is full of touching melody.] As Lenora was about beginning the last verse of her song De Vlierbeck appeared on the sill of the kitchen door, and the peasants instantly rose in alarm at the freedom with which they were sitting in the presence of their young mistress, listening to her songs; but the poor gentleman at once understood the meaning of her action, and with a gesture of approval signaled them to be quiet.

As the last words died on his ear,--"I'm glad to see you amusing yourselves," said he; "but, now that the song is ended, I want your services in another quarter, my good woman." Followed by Bess, the farmer's wife, he ascended to the dining-room, where the table-cloth was already laid and every thing in order for the reception of the dishes.

Bessy's son was already there in livery, with a napkin over his arm; and De Vlierbeck immediately began to assign them their several tasks during the service of dinner, and to repeat and drill them in their tasks till he was perfectly satisfied with their performances.
The hour for dinner was at length near at hand.

Every thing was ready in the kitchen, and all were at their posts.