“I was studying, Mr. Herder, —­ pretty hard.”

“Is that what you are going to give me to study?” said the naturalist.

“Not exactly —­ it was something about it.  I want you to do something for me, Mr. Herder, —­ if I may ask you, —­ and if you will be so very kind as to take some trouble for me.”

“I do not like trouble,” said the naturalist shaking his head good-humouredly over a squeeze of his lemon; —­ “dere is no use in having trouble —­ I get out of it so soon as I can —­ but I will get in it wiz pleasure for you, Miss Elisabet’ —­ what you tell me —­ if you will tell me if that is too much sucker.”

“To take trouble, and to be in trouble, are not quite the same thing, Mr. Herder,” said Elizabeth, having 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?”