Nobody spoke; and then Rufus said, not quietly,
"Depends on circumstances, ma'am; — some one thing and some another."
"My son Rufus, — we all have the same interest at heart with you."
"I am sorry for it, ma'am; I would rather be disappointed alone."
"I hope there will be no disappointment — I do not look for any, in the end. Cannot you bear a little present disappointment?"
"I do bear it, ma'am."
"But Winthrop has the very same things at stake as you have, and I do not see him wear such a disconsolate face, — ever."
"Winthrop —" the speaker began, and paused, every feature of his fine face working with emotion. His hearers waited, but whatever lay behind, nothing more of his meaning came out.
"Winthrop what? —" said his brother laughing.
"You are provokingly cool!" said the other, his eye changing again.