“You’re not to buy it of him, Mr. Herder.”

“No?” said the naturalist.  “Of who, then?  I thought you said he was going to sell it.”

“Yes, he is —­ but he has somebody else to do it for him.  Here, Mr. Herder, —­ here is the advertisement; —­ see —­ don’t read the first part, —­ all that has nothing to do with it, —­ here is the place.  ’At the Merchant’s Exchange, in the city of Mannahatta, on the first day of September, 1821, at 12 o’clock noon of that day’ —­ and then comes the description of the place.  It is to be sold at public auction.”

“Auc-sion? —­” said the naturalist.

“It’s to be sold in public, to whoever offers to give most for it.”

“O, I know that,” said Mr. Herder.

“And dear Mr. Herder, all I ask of you is to be there, at 12 o’clock the first of September, and buy it for me; and let nobody know.  Can you do it?”

“I can do so much,” said the naturalist.  “I think I can.  But suppose somebody will give more than you.”

“Do not suppose that, sir.  I will give more than anybody.”

“Are you sure you will?” said the naturalist.  “Maybe you do not know.”

“I do know, sir, and am sure.”

“Well,” said the naturalist, shaking his head, —­ “I do not know much about buying grounds —­ I do know a leetle of some things —­ but I do not know what sort of a lesson is this, Miss Elisabet’.  But I will see if I can do it.  Who is going to live up there wiz you?”

“Don’t you suppose I can live alone, Mr. Herder.”

“No, not there,” said the naturalist.  “You want some one to take care of you —­ de engineer, Miss Elisabet’,” said he smiling.

Elizabeth made no answer; she had risen up to go; and he guided her through the halls and down the staircases, till she was in the open street again.  Then, after a farewell squeeze of his hand and nod of her little head, she pulled her veil down and went homeward, more slowly than she had come.

“Do I want somebody to take care of me?” she thought.  “I believe I do!  An engineer? —­ I do not think the engine is under very good guidance —­ it is too strong for me —­ How could he know that?  Oh what earthly thing would I give, for a hand wise and strong enough to lead me, and good enough that I could submit myself to!”

The wish was so deep drawn that her breast heaved with it, and starting tears made her draw her veil thicker before them.  She bit her lip, and once more quickened her steps towards home.

CHAPTER III.

Then think I of deep shadows on the grass, —­
Of meadows where in sun the cattle graze,
Where, as the breezes pass,
The gleaming rushes lean a thousand ways, —­
Of leaves that slumber in a cloudy mass,
Or whiten in the wind, —­ of waters blue
That from the distance sparkle through
Some woodland gap, —­ and of a sky above,
Where one white cloud like a stray lamb doth move. 
LOWELL.