“I have something to do too, Lenora.  Professor Delsaux gave me some pieces of music to copy for his pupils, which will give me four francs in a couple of days.  And now be quiet a while, my dear child; my nerves are so shattered that if we talk I shall make mistakes and spoil the paper.”

“I may sing, father; may I not?”

“Oh, yes; that won’t annoy me:  your song will please my ear without distracting my attention.”

The old gentleman went on writing, while Lenora, with a rich and joyous voice, repeated all her songs and poured forth her heart in melody.  She sewed meanwhile diligently, and, from time to time, glanced at her father to see whether the cloud had fallen again over his face and spirit.

They had been a considerable time engaged with their several occupations, when the parish clock struck; and, putting down her work hastily, Lenora took a basket from behind the stove and prepared to go out.  Her father looked up with surprise as he said,—­

“What! already, Lenora?”

“It has just struck half-past eleven, father.”

Without making any other remark, De Vlierbeck bent his head again over the music-paper and continued his task.

Lenora soon returned from her walk with her basket full of potatoes and something else tied up in a paper, which she hid beneath a napkin.  Then, pouring some water in a pot which she placed beside her chair, she began to sing, and threw in the potatoes as she peeled them.  After this she kindled a fire in the stove and set the pot of potatoes to boil.  After the fire burned well she put a skillet, with a little butter and a good deal of vinegar, over the coals.

Up to this moment her father had not looked up nor intermitted his work; he saw her getting dinner ready every day, and it was seldom that any variety of food appeared on their table.  But, hardly had the potatoes begun to boil, when an agreeable perfume was diffused through the chamber.  De Vlierbeck glanced up from his writing, a little reproachfully, as he exclaimed,—­

“What! meat on Friday, my child? you know very well we must be economical.”

“Don’t be angry, father,” answered Lenora; “the doctor ordered it.”

“You are trying to deceive me, are you not?”

“No, no; the doctor said you required meat at least three times a week, if we could get it; it will do you more good than any thing else in restoring your strength.”

“And yet we are in debt, Lenora!”

“Come, come, father, let our debts alone, everybody will be paid and satisfied.  Don’t trouble yourself about them any more:  I’ll answer for them all.  And now be so good as to take your papers off of the table, so that I can lay the cloth.”

De Vlierbeck got up and did as he was asked.  Lenora covered the deal-boards with a snowy napkin and placed on it two plates and a dish of potatoes.  It was indeed an humble table, at which all was extremely common; yet every thing was so neat, fresh, and savory, that a rich man might have sat down to it with appetite.  They took their places and asked a blessing on the meal; but, before the prayer was finished, Lenora started suddenly and interrupted her father.  With eyes staring toward the door and head leaned forward, she listened eagerly, motioning her father with her hand to be silent.