ately."

Winnie could not make much of this conversation. The words
might seem to mean something, but Winthrop's manner had been
so perfectly cool and at ease that she was at a loss to know
whether they meant anything.

Winthrop's first cause was not a very dignified one -- it was
something about a man's horse. Winnie did not think much of
it; except that it was his first cause, and it was gained; but
that she was sure beforehand it would be. However, more
dignified pieces of business did follow, and came fast; and at
every new one Winnie's eyes sparkled and glistened, and her
nervous troubles for the moment laid themselves down beneath
joy, and pride in her brother, and thankfulness for his
success. Before many months had passed away, something offered
that in better measure answered her wishes for his
opportunity.

Their attic room had one evening a very unwonted visiter in
the shape of Mr. Herder. Beside Mr. Inchbald and his sister,
Rufus was the sole one that ever made a third in the little
company. Winthrop's friends, for many reasons, had not the
entrance there. But this evening, near the beginning of the
new year, there came a knock at the door, and Mr. Herder's
round face walked in rounder than ever.

"Good evening! -- How is all wiz you, Wint'rop? -- and you? -- I
would not let no one come up wiz me -- I knew I should find
you."

"How did you know that, Mr. Herder?"

"O! -- I have not looked so long for strange things on the
earth -- and _in_ the earth -- that I cannot find a friend -- de
most strange thing of all."

"Is that your conclusion, Mr. Herder? I didn't know you had
quite so desperate an opinion of mankind."

"It is not despairate," said the naturalist; -- "I do not
despair of nobody. Dere is much good among de world -- dere
might be more -- a good deal. I hope all will be good one day --
it will be -- then we shall have no more trouble. How is it wiz
you, Wint'rop?"

"Nothing to complain of, Mr. Herder."

"Does he never have nozing to complain of?" said the
naturalist turning to Winnie.

"He never thinks he has," said Winnie. She had answered the
naturalist's quick eye with a quick smile, and then turned on
Winthrop a look that spoke of many a thing he must have passed
over to make her words good. Mr. Herder's eye followed hers.

"How is everything with _you_, Mr. Herder?"

"It is well enough," said the naturalist, -- "like the common.
I do not complain, neizer. I never have fou