"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 space 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.