aving at the moment a
vivid realization of the difference.

"I thought trouble was trouble," said the naturalist,
finishing the preparing his own glass of lemonade. "If you
will lesson me to find trouble is no trouble -- Miss Elisabet'
-- I will thank you much for that."

Elizabeth heartily wished anybody could teach her that
particular lesson. She sipped her lemonade, slowly and
abstractedly, busy yet with the study which Mr. Herder had
broken off; while he talked benignly and kindly, to ears that
did not hear. But the last of Elizabeth's glass was swallowed
hastily and the glass set down.

"Mr. Herder, I have come to ask you to do something for me."

"I am honoured, Miss Elisabet'," said the philosopher bowing.

"Will you not speak of it to anybody?"

"Not speak of it!" said the naturalist. "Then it is a secret?"

The quick energetic little bend of Elizabeth's head said
before her lips spoke the word, "Yes!"

"It is more honour yet," he said. "What am I to do, Miss
Elisabet'?"

"Nothing, if it will be any real trouble to you, Mr. Herder.
Promise me that first."

"Promise? -- what shall I promise?" said Mr. Herder.

"Promise me that if what I am going to ask would be any real
trouble to you or to your business, you will tell me so."

"I do not love to be troubled," said the naturalist. "It shall
not be no trouble to me."

"But promise me that you will tell me, Mr. Herder."

"Suppose you was to tell me first. I cannot tell nozing till I
know."

"You will not speak of it to anybody, Mr. Herder?"

"I will not speak of nozing, Miss Elisabet'."

"Mr. Herder, there is a piece of land which I want to buy; and
I have come to ask you, if you can, and if you will, to buy it
for me."

"Miss Elisabet'," said the naturalist looking a little
surprised at his fair questioner, -- "I will tell you the truth
-- I have no money."

"I have, Mr. Herder. But I cannot go into the market and buy
for myself."

"Cer-tain-ly, you cannot do that," said Mr. Herder. "But what
is it you wish to buy?"

"It is a farm, --" said Elizabeth, feeling glad that her back
was to the light; -- "it is a piece of land in the country -- up
on the Shatemuc river. I think you have been there, Mr.
Herder, -- it is the place where the Landholms' father lives.
Wut-a-qut-o, they call it -- or Shahweetah; -- Wut-a-qut-o is
the mountain opposite."

"Landholm!" cried the naturalist. "Is it Winthrop's place?"

Elizabeth bowed her head and