"Nothing but money, -- and I don't get that." "It's safe, isn't it?" "Yes, and so are winter's snows, in their treasury; -- and I could as soon get it by asking for it." "Let us hope it will come with the snows," said Winthrop, his head still bent down over his book. "You may talk; -- it is easy waiting for you." "Query, how that would give me a right to talk," said Winthrop turning over a leaf; -- "supposing it to be a fact; of which I have some doubts." "What have you been doing all to-day?" "The usual routine -- which after all is but preparing to do." "What has been the routine to-day?" "You saw my breakfast and saw me get it. -- Then I went out. -- Then I read, according to custom." "What?" "Classics." "Do you!" "For awhile. The rest of the morning between engrossing deeds and the Record Office. First half of the afternoon, or rather a larger proportion, ditto; the rest to meet my friends Messrs. Jones and Satterthwaite." "Satterthwaite! -- what does _he_ want?" "To read Greek with me." "Greek! What has put that into his head? Bob. Satterthwaite!" -- and Rufus threw back his head and laughed in a great state of amusement. "What has put _that_ into his head? -- eh, Winthrop?" "I don't inquire. It puts money in my pocket." "Not much," said Rufus. "No, not much." "What's the reason, do you think? What moves _him_ to woo the Muses? -- I'm afraid it's because he thinks it is a preliminary wooing he must go through before he can be successful in another quarter." And again Rufus laughed, in high delight. "I have no business with that," said Winthrop. "What are you doing now?" "Studying law." "Stop." "What for?" "To talk to me." "It seems to me I have been doing that for some time," said Winthrop, without looking off his book. "But I haven't begun. Winthrop, -- I have a great mind to give up this engineering business." "To do what instead?" "Why -- you know I shall have some money coming to me -- quite a little sum; -- Mr. Haye has very kindly offered to put me in the way of laying it out to good advantage, and eventually of getting into another line of occupation which would at the same time be more lucrative, less laborious, and would keep me in the regions of civilization. -- And perhaps -- Winthrop -- something might follow thereupon, --" "What?" said his brother looking up. "Something --" "More definite in your purpose than in your speech." "Not my purpose, exactly," said Rufus, -- "but in possibility." "There is no peg in possibility for a wise man to hang his cap on." "Perhaps I am not a wise man," said Rufus, with a very queer face, as if his mind were giving an askance look at the subject. "That's a supposititious case I shall leave you to deal with."