His mother was going on with her ironing.
"I don't know," she said, as her iron made passes up and down,
— "I don't know whether you can have them or not."
"I know," said Winthrop. "But I don't see the sense of getting them at Asphodel."
"Because I tell you they are two dollars and a half cheaper."
"And how much more will it cost you to go round by the way of
Asphodel than to go straight to Little River?"
"I don't know," said the other, half careless, half displeased; — "I really haven't calculated."
"Well, if you can get them for five dollars," said Winthrop, "you shall have them. I can lend you so much as that."
"How did you come by it?" said his brother looking at him curiously.
"I didn't come by it at all."
"Where did it come from?"