"And how often do the letters come here?" said Ellen.
"Take care, Johnny! some more water mind your business, will you? Just as often as I go to fetch 'em, Miss Ellen, and no oftener."
"And how often do you go, Mr. Van Brunt?"
"Only when I've some other errand Miss Ellen; my grain would never be in the barn if I was running to the post-office every other thing and for what ain't there, too. I don't get a letter but two or three times a-year I s'pose, though I call I guess half-a-dozen times."
"Ah, but there's one there now, or soon will be, I know, for me," said Ellen. "When do you think you will go again, Mr. Van Brunt?"
"Now, if I'd ha' know'd that, I'd ha' gone to Thirlwall yesterday I was within a mile of it. I don't see as I can go this week, anyhow, in the world; but I'll make some errand there the first day I can, Miss Ellen that you may depend on. You shan't wait for your letter a bit longer than I can help."
"Oh, thank you, Mr. Van Brunt you're very kind. Then the letters never come except when you go after them?"
"No; yes they do come once in a while by old Mr. Swaim, but he han't been here this great while."
"And who's he?" said Ellen.
"Oh, he's a queer old chip that goes round the country on all sorts of errands; he comes along once in a while. That'll do, Johnny I believe this here tool is as sharp as I have any occasion for."