But it was a laugh assumed to hide some feeling.

"Well, it shall get back to you again somehow, Winthrop.

Come -- are we ready for this piscatory excursion ?" "For what ?" said his mother.
"A Latin word, my dear mother, which I lately picked up somewhere." "Why not use English ?" said his mother.
A general little laugh, to which many an unexpressed thought and feeling went, broke up the conference; and the two fishers set forth on their errand; Rufus carrying the basket and fishing-poles, and Winthrop's shoulder bearing the oars.

As they went down in front of the house, little Winifred ran out.
"Governor, mayn't I go ?" "No!" said Rufus.
"We are going to Point Bluff, Winnie," said Winthrop stopping to kiss her, -- "and I am afraid you would roll off on one side while I was pulling up a fish on the other." She stood still, and looked after her two brothers as they went down to the water.
The house stood in a tiny little valley, a little basin in the rocks, girdled about on all sides with low craggy heights covered with evergreens.

On all sides but one.