"You seem very sure about it, Mr. Herder," said Rose.
"I do not know," said the naturalist. "I am not much afraid.
My friend Winthrop — he knows what he is doing."
And to that gentleman the party presently gave their attention; as also did the sturdy strong face of Mr. Justice the Chancellor, and the extremely different physiognomy of Mr. Dustus Brick.
Winthrop and Mr. Brick spoke alternately; and as this was the case on each point, or question, — as Mr. Herder called them, — and as one at least of the speakers was particularly clear and happy in setting forth his meaning, the listeners were kept from weariness and rewarded, those of them that had minds for it, with some intellectual pleasure. It was pretty much on this occasion as Mr. Herder had given the general course of the suit to be; after every opening of a matter on Winthrop's part, the Chancellor would say, very curtly,
"I allow that exception! Mr. Brick, what have you got to say?" —
Mr. Brick generally had a good deal to say. He seemed to multiply his defences in proportion to the little he had to defend; in strong contrast to his antagonist's short, nervous, home-thrust arguments. The Court generally seemed tired with Mr. Brick.
"Oh that man! — I wish he would stop!" said Rose.
Elizabeth, who for the most part was as still as a mouse, glanced round at these words, one of her few and rare secondings of anything said by her cousin. She did not know that her glance shewed cheeks of fire, and eyes all the power of which seemed to be in full life.
"Can you understand that man?" said the naturalist.
"He don't understand himself," said Elizabeth.