The Progressionists, Chapter IX-X [pp. 674-687]

Tke Progression is/s. 68i
with a brush, and spread a white A second time she hurned away
cloth over the table. Seraphin to the house, whilst he kept listening
looked on with a smile. to her footsteps. The extraordinary
"I do not wish to be troublesome, neatness and cleanliness which could
Mechtild!" be seen everywhere about the little
"It is no trouble, Mr. Seraphin! Sit homestead did not escape his obserdown, now, and rest yoursdf. I am so vation. On all sides he fancied he
sorry father and mother are not at saw the work of Mechtild. The puhome. They will be ever so glad to rity of her spirit, which beamed so
hear that you have honored us with mildly from her eyes and was rea visit." vealed in il~e b~uty of her counte "Is nobody at home?" nance and the grace of her person,
"Father is in town, and mother is seemed embodied in the very odor of
at work with the children in the har- roses wafted over from the neighborvest field." ing flower garden. He was uncon "Are you not afraid to stay here scious of the rapid growth within his
by yourself?" bosom of a deep and ~nder feeling.
"~Vhat shoultl I be afraid of? This freling was casting a warm glow,
There are no ghosts in daytime," she like softest sunshine, over all that he
said with a bewitd~ing archness; "and beheld. Not even the chickens
as for thieves, they never expect to looked to him like otl~er fbwls of
find anything worth having at our their kind; they were ennobled by
house." the reflection that they were objects
She was standing on the other side of Mechtild's care, that she fed them,
of tl~e table, looking at him with a that when they were still piping little
beautiful smile. pullets she had held them in l~er lap
"~Von't you have a seat on this and caressed them. He abandoned
bench?" said he, making room for her. himself completely to this sentiment;
"You need rest more than I do. it carried him on like a smooth curYou have been working, and I am rent; and he could not tell, did not
merely an idle stroller. Do take a suspect even, why so wonderful a reseat, Mechtild." action had in so short a time taken
"Thank you, Mr. Seraphin-I place in his interior. Beholding
could not think of doing so! It himself seated under the walnut-tree
would not be becoming," she an- surrounded only by evidences of honswered with some confusion. orable poverty and rural thrift, and
"~Vhy not becoming?" yet freling a degree of happiness and
"Because you are a gentleman, peace he had never known before,
and I am only a poor girl." he fancied he was performing a part
Your objection on the score of in some fairy tale whicl~ he was
propriety is not worth anything. dreaming with his eyes open. And
Oblige me by doing what I ask of now the fairy appeared at the door
you." having on a snowy-white apron, and
"I will do so, Mr. Seraphin, since cairying a shallow basket from whid~
you insist upon it, but after a while. could be seen, protruding above the
I would like to offer you some re- rest of its contents, a milk jar. She
freshments beforehand, if you will set before him a pewter plate, brigh?
allow me." as silver. Then slie took out the jar
~Vitli pleasure," he said, nodding and a cup, next she laid a knife and
assent. spoon for him, and finished her hos