"He was a German; and he was the minister of a poor country parish in Hanover; and the minister and the people together were so full of the love of Christ that they did what rich churches elsewhere don't do." "And does that book tell what they did?" "Partly; what they did, and what other people have done." "_I_ should like to hear some of it," was Maggie's conclusion. "Well, you shall. We'll try, after dinner. Flora and Esther may shut their ears, if they will." "If you won't read something else," said Flora, "I suppose I would rather hear that than nothing. I can get on with my work better." "And worsted work is the chief end of woman, everybody knows," remarked her brother. "The kettle is boiling, Maggie!" All was lively activity at once. Even the afghan and the worsted embroidery were laid on the moss, and the two elder girls bestirred themselves to get out the plates and dishes from the baskets and arrange them; while Maggie made the tea, and Meredith set about his omelet. Maggie watched him with intense satisfaction, as he broke and beat his eggs and put them over the fire; watched till the cookery was accomplished and the omelet was turned out hot and brown and savoury. The girls declared it was the best thing they had ever tasted, and Flora thought the tea was the best tea, and Meredith that the bread and butter was the best bread and butter. Maggie privately thought it was the best dinner altogether that ever she had eaten in the woods; but I think she judged most by the company. It was a long dinner! Why should they use haste? The October sun was not hot; the sweet air gave an appetite; the thousand things they had to talk about gave zest to the food. They were not in a hurry with their tea, and they lingered over their apple-pie. When at last they were of a mind to seek a change of diversion, and really the dinner was done--for talk as much as you will you yet must stop eating some time--the plates and remnants were quickly put back in the baskets and set again in the cart, tea-kettle and napkins cleared away, and the mossy dining-room looked as if no company had been there. "This is first rate," exclaimed Meredith, stretching himself on the warm moss. "And now, Ditto, you are going to read to us." "Am I?" "Yes, for you said so." "An honourable man always keeps his promises," said Meredith. But he lay still. The two elder girls got out their work again. Maggie sat by and silently stroked the hair on Meredith's temples. "This is good enough, without reading," he presently went on. "The moss is spicy, the sky is blue, I see it through a lace-work of pine needles; the air is like satin. I cannot imagine anything much better than to lie here and look up." "But you can feel the air, and see the sky, and smell the moss, too, while you are reading, Ditto." "Can I? Well! your ten fingers are so many persuaders that I cannot withstand. Let's go in for Pastor Harms!"