"Why did you never make trial for yourself, Winthrop?" he said. "You have a remarkably fine chance; and fine opening too, I should think. You are evidently very well received down yonder."
"I have a theory of my own too, on the subject," said Winthrop, — "somewhat different from yours, but still enough to work by."
"What's that?"
"I have no mind to marry any woman who is unwilling to be obliged to me."
Rufus looked at his brother and at the fireplace awhile in gravity.
"You are proud," he said at length.
"I must have come to it by living so high in the world," said
Winthrop.
"So high?" — said Rufus.
"As near the sun as I can get. I thought it was very near, some time in August last."
Winthrop laid by his book; and the two young men stood several minutes, quite silent, on opposite sides of the hearth, with folded hands and meditative countenances; but the face of the one looked like the muddy waters of the Shatemuc tossed and tumbled under a fierce wind; the other's was calm and steady as Wut-a-qut-o's brow.