Winthrop went back to his papers and studied them, with his usual calm face and in silence, for some time. Rufus walked and cogitated for half an hour.
"I ought not to have said that, Winthrop," were his first words. "But now look at me!"
"With pleasure," said Winthrop laying down his 'answer' — "I have looked at many a worse man."
"Can't you be serious?" said Rufus, a provoked smile forcing itself upon him.
"I thought I was rarely anything else," said Winthrop. "But now I look at you, I don't see anything in the world the matter."
"Yet look at our different positions — yours and mine."
"I'd as lieve be excused," said Winthrop. "You always made the best show, in any position."
"Other people don't think so," said Rufus, turning with a curious struggle of feeling in his face, and turning to hide it in his walk up and down.
"What ails you, Will? — I don't know what you mean."
"You deserve it!" said Rufus, swallowing something in his mind apparently, that cost him some trouble.