dinner."

"I want something else, though. My appetite almost frightens me."

"That's famous! I needn't be ashamed of mine, then."

One evening, before the week was over, he saw her busy with a rake about the
door. Last year's leaves were still scattered about, with twigs and even
small boughs wrested by the winds from the trees. He was provoked with
himself that he had neglected the usual spring clearing away of litter, and a
little irritated that she should have tried to do the work herself. He left
the horses at the barn and came forward directly. "Alida," he said gravely,
"there's no need of your doing such work; I don't like to see you do it."

"Why," she replied, "I've heard that women in the country often milk and take
care of the chickens."

"Yes, but that's very different from this work. I wouldn't like people to
think I expected such things of you."

"It's very easy work," she said smilingly, "easier than sweeping a room,
though something like it. I used to do it at home when I was a girl. I think
it does me good to do something in the open air."

She was persisting, but not in a way that chafed him. Indeed, as he looked
into her appealing eyes and face flushed with exercise, he felt that it would
be churlish to say another word.

"Well," he said, laughing, "it makes you look so young and rosy I guess it
does you good. I suppose you'll have to have your own way."