Winthrop’s boat lay still upon the sleepy water, —­ his fishing rod dipped its end lazily in, —­ the cork floated at rest; and the fisher seated in his boat, was giving his whole attention seemingly to something in his boat.  Very softly and pretty skilfully they stole up.

He had something of the wild duck about him; for before they could get more than near at hand, he had looked up, looked round, and risen to greet them.  By his help the boats were laid close alongside of each other; and while Winthrop and Mr. Herder were shaking hands across them, Elizabeth quietly leaned over into the stern of the fishing-boat and took up one or two books which lay there.  The first proved to be an ill-bound, ill printed, Greek and Latin dictionary; the other was a Homer!  Elizabeth laid them down again greatly amazed, and wondering what kind of people she had got among.

“What brings you here now, Mr. Herder?” said Winthrop.  “Have you come to look after the American Eagle?”

“Ha! —­ no —­ I have not come to look after no eagle; —­ and yet I do not know —­ I have come to see you, and I do not know what you will turn to be —­the eagle flies high, you know.”

Winthrop was preparing to tie the two boats together, and did not answer.  Mr. Herder stepped from the one he was in and took a seat in Winthrop’s.  Elizabeth would not leave her own, though she permitted Winthrop to attach it to his and to do the rowing for both; she sat afar off among her cushions, alone.

“I am not very gallant, Miss Elisabet’,” said the naturalist; “but if you will not come, I will not come back to you.  I did not come to see you this time —­ I want to speak to this young American Eagle.”

And he settled himself comfortably with his back to Elizabeth, and turned to talk to Winthrop, as answering to his strong arm the two boats began to fly over the water.

“You see,” he said, “I have stopped here just to see you.  You have not change your mind, I hope, about going to de Universite?”

“No sir.”

“Goot.  In de Universite where I am, there is a foundation —­ I mean by that, the College has monies, that she is in right to spend to help those students that are not quite rich enough —­ if they have a leetle, she gives them a leetle more, till they can get through and come out wiz their studies.  This Universite has a foundation; and it is full; but the President is my friend, and he knows that I have a friend; and he said to me that he would make room for one more, though we are very full, and take you in; so that it will cost you very little.  I speak that, for I know that you could not wish to spend so much as some.”

It was a golden chance —­ if it could but be given to Rufus!  That was not possible; and still less was it possible that Winthrop should take it and so make his brother’s case hopeless, by swallowing up all the little means that of right must go to set him forward first.  There was a strong heaving of motives against each other in Winthrop’s bosom.  But his face did not shew it; there was no change in his cool grey eye; after a minute’s hesitation he answered, lying on his oars,