There were pleasures, however, that Winthrop could not buy and which were very freely his.  Mr. Herder’s friendship introduced him to society, some of the best worth to be found, and which opened itself circle after circle to let him in.  He had the freedom of President Darcy’s house, and of Mr. Haye’s, where he met other sets; in all, covering the whole ground of Mannahatta good society; and in all which Winthrop could not but know he was gladly seen.  He had means and facilities for social enjoyment, more, by many, than he chose to avail himself of; facilities that did not lack temptation.  In Mr. Herder’s set, Winthrop often was found; other houses in the city saw him but rarely.

There was an exception, —­ he was often at Mr. Haye’s; why, it did not very plainly appear.  He was certainly made welcome by the family, but so he was by plenty of other families; and the house had not a more pleasant set of familiars than several other houses could boast.  Mr. Haye had no sort of objection to giving him so much countenance and encouragement; and Rose kept all her coldness and doubtful speeches for other times than those when he was near.  Elizabeth held very much her old manner; in general chose to have little to do with him; either haughtily or carelessly distant, it might be taken for one or the other.  Though which it might be taken for, seemed to give no more concern to the gentleman in question than it did to herself.

CHAPTER XIX.

A man may hear this shower sing in the wind. 
MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR.

One summer’s afternoon, —­ this was the first summer of Winthrop’s being in Mannahatta, —­ he went to solace himself with a walk out of town.  It was a long and grave and thoughtful walk; so that Mr. Landholm really had very little good of the bright summer light upon the grass and trees.  Furthermore, he did not even find it out when this light was curtained in the west with a thick cloud, which straightway became gilt and silver-edged in a marvellous and splendid degree.  The cloud of thought was thicker than that, if not quite so brilliant; and it was not until low growls of thunder began to salute his ear, that he looked up and found the silver edge fast mounting to the zenith and the curtain drawing its folds all around over the clear blue sky.  His next look was earthward, for a shelter; for at the rate that chariot of the storm was travelling he knew he had not many minutes to seek one before the storm would be upon him.  Happily a blacksmith’s shop, that he would certainly have passed without seeing it, stood at a little distance; and Winthrop thankfully made for it.  He found it deserted; and secure of a refuge, took his place at the door to watch the face of things; for though the edge of the town was near, the storm was nearer, and it would not do to run for it.  The blackness covered everything now, changing to lurid light in the storm quarter, and big scattered drops began to come plashing down.  This time Winthrop’s mind was so much in the clouds that he did not know what was going on in the earth; for while he stood looking and gazing, two ladies almost ran over him.  Winthrop’s senses came back to the door of the blacksmith’s shop, and the ladies recovered themselves.