"I am afraid the blackberries would be the more savoury," said Rufus laughing a little. "But you didn't use to make such a hermit of yourself, Winthrop."
"I don't intend to be a hermit always. But as I told you, duty and inclination have combined to make me one lately."
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?"