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.