"I was under the impression you did not," said Rufus, standing still. "I waited for you to speak."
"It is safe to conclude that when a man makes you wait, he has something to say."
"You are more certain of it when he lets you know what it is," said Rufus.
"Provided he knows first himself."
"How long does it take you to find out what you have to say?" said Rufus, returning to his ordinary manner and his seat at once. The fire seemed to have thrown itself off in that last jet of flame.
"I sometimes find I have too much; and then there is apt to be a little delay of choice."
"A delay to choose? — or a choice of delay?" said Rufus.
"Sometimes one and sometimes the other."
One or the other seemed still in force with Winthrop's present matter of speech, for he came before the fire and stood mending it, and said nothing.
"Winthrop," said Rufus gravely, "have you any particular reason to decline doing this business for me?"