"You see," Mr. Underhill went on, "it'll be all of night afore I get the bottom of this here done. — What's Rufus doin'? is he got to be a minister yet?"
"No."
"Another lawyer?"
"No."
"What is he then?"
"I don't know — I believe he was an engineer."
"An engineer?" said the old man standing up and looking at her. "Do you mean he's one o' them fellers that sees to the ingines on the boats? — that ain't much gettin' up in the world. I see one o' them once — I went to Mannahatta in the boat, just to see what 'twas — is Rufus one o' them smutty fellers standing over the fires there?"
"Not at all; it's a very different business, and as respectable as that of a clergyman or lawyer."
"There ain't anything more respectable than what his father was," said Mr. Underhill. "But Rufus was too handsome — he wanted to wear shiny boots always."
Elizabeth walked off.