midday, summer
This place Lena had found very good . There was a pleasant , unexacting mistress and her children , and they all liked Lena very well . There was a cook there who scolded Lena a great deal but Lena 's german patience held no suffering and the good incessant woman really only scolded so for Lena 's good . Lena 's german voice when she knocked and called the family in the morning was as awakening , as soothing , and as appealing , as a delicate soft breeze in midday , summer . She stood in the hallway every morning a long time in her unexpectant and unsuffering german patience calling to the young ones to get up . She would call and wait a long time and then call again , always even , gentle , patient , while the young ones fell back often into that precious , tense , last bit of sleeping that gives a strength of joyous vigor in the young , over them that have come to the readiness of middle age , in their awakening . Lena had good hard work all morning , and on the pleasant , sunny afternoons she was sent out into the park to sit and watch the little two year old girl baby of the family .