Part 9 (1/2)
”Asahel had better mind his own business,” was the somewhat sharp retort; and Rufus pulled a lock of the little boy's hair in a manner to convey a very decided notion of his judgment.
Asahel, resenting this handling, or touched by it, slipped off his chair and took himself out of the room.
”He thinks you ought to take off your fine clothes and help Winthrop more than you do,” said his mother, going on with a s.h.i.+rt she was ironing.
”Fine clothes!” said the other with a very expressive breath, -- ”I shall feel fine when I get that on, mother. Is that mine?”
”Yes.”
”Couldn't Karen do that?”
”No,” said Mrs. Landholm, as she put down her iron and took a hot one. The tone said, ”Yes -- but not well enough.”
He stood watching her neat work.
”I am ashamed of myself, mother, when I look at you.”
”Why?”
”Because I don't deserve to have you do this for me.”
She looked up and gave him one of her grave clear glances, and said,
”_Will_ you deserve it, Will?”
He stood with full eyes and hushed tongue by her table, for the s.p.a.ce of five minutes. Then spoke with a change of tone.
”Well, I'm going down to help Winthrop catch some fish for supper; and you sha'n't cook 'em, mamma, nor Karen neither.
Karen's cooking is not perfection. By the by, there's one thing more I do want, -- and confoundedly too, -- a pair of boots; -- I really don't know how to do without them.”
”Boots?” -- said his mother, in an accent that sounded a little dismayful.
”Yes. -- I can get capital ones at Asphodel -- really stylish ones -- for five dollars; -- boots that would last me handsome a great while; and that's a third less than I should have to give anywhere else, -- for such boots. You see I shall want them at Little River -- I shall be thrown more in the way of seeing people -- there's a great deal of society there. I don't see that I can get along without them.”
His mother was going on with her ironing.
”I don't know,” she said, as her iron made pa.s.ses up and down, -- ”I don't know whether you can have them or not.”
”I know,” said Winthrop. ”But I don't see the sense of getting them at Asphodel.”
”Because I tell you they are two dollars and a half cheaper.”
”And how much more will it cost you to go round by the way of Asphodel than to go straight to Little River?”
”I don't know,” said the other, half careless, half displeased; -- ”I really haven't calculated.”
”Well, if you can get them for five dollars,” said Winthrop, ”you shall have them. I can lend you so much as that.”
”How did you come by it?” said his brother looking at him curiously.