Winthrop hesitated slightly, and then came forth one of those same "no's," that Winnie knew by heart.
"Have you any particular reason to dislike it?"
"Yes. They were my friends once."
"But is your friendship for them stronger than for anybody else?"
"It does not stand in the way of my duty to you, Will."
"Your duty to me, —" said the other.
"Yes. I cannot in this instance call it pleasure."
It was the turn of Rufus to hesitate; for the face of his brother expressed an absence of pleasure that to him, in the circumstances, was remarkable.
"Then you do not refuse to undertake this job for me?"
"I will do what I can," said Winthrop, working at a large forestick on the fire. How Winnie wished he would let it alone, and place himself so that she could see him.