"They will bear looking at," said Mrs. Landholm.
"But my dear mother, I never heard of anybody in my life of whom this was true."
"How many people have you heard of, in your life, who answered the description?"
Rufus turned and began to walk up and down again.
"But suppose he were to undertake something not well — not right?"
"The security reaches further back," said Winthrop.
"You forget," said his mother, "he could not do that; or could not persist in it."
Rufus walked, and the others sat still and looked at the fire, till the opening of the door let in Mr. Landholm and a cold blast of air; which roused the whole party. Winthrop put more wood on the fire; Mr. Landholm sat down in the corner and made himself comfortable; and Mrs. Landholm fetched an enormous tin pan of potatoes and began paring them. Rufus presently stopped behind her chair, and said softly, "What's that for, mother?"
"For your breakfast to-morrow, sir."
"Where is Karen?"