bestowed," said the other putting his hand in his pocket; --
"There they are! -- I don't want them -- I will find a way to
stand on my own legs -- with boots or without, as the case may
be."

"I don't know who has better legs," said Winthrop. "I can't
pity you."

"But seriously, Winthrop," said Rufus, smiling in spite of
himself, -- "a man may go empty-headed, but he cannot go bare-
footed into a library, nor into society."

"Did you go much into society at Asphodel?" asked Winthrop.

"Not near so much as I shall -- and that's the very thing. I
_can't do_ without these things, you see. They are necessary to
me. Even at Asphodel -- but that was nothing. Asphodel will be
a very good place for you to go to in the first instance. You
won't find yourself a stranger."

"Will you be ready for college next year?"

"Hum -- don't know -- it depends. I am not anxious about it -- I
shall be all the better prepared if I wait longer, and I
should like to have you with me. It will make no difference in
the end, for I can enter higher, and that will save expense.
Seriously Winthrop, you _must_ get away."

"I _must_ catch that fish," said Winthrop, -- "if I can --"