Yet there were often times, -- when talk was at a standstill, and mother's "good things" were not on the table, with a string of happy faces round it, and neither axe nor scythe kept him from a present feeling of inaction, -- that the shadow reappeared on Rufus's brow.

He would sit in the chimney corner, looking far down into the hearth-stones, or walk moodily up and down the floor, behind the backs of the other people, with a face that seemed to belong to some waste corner of society.
"My son," said Mrs.Landholm, one evening when Mr.Landholm was out and the little ones in bed, -- "what makes you wear such a sober face ?" "Nothing, mother, -- only that I am doing nothing." "Are you sure of that?
Your father was saying that he never saw anybody sow broadcast with a finer hand -- he said you had done a grand day's work to day." An impatiently drawn breath was the answer.
"Rufus, nobody is doing _nothing_ who is doing all that God gives him leave to do." "No mother -- and nobody ever _will_ do much who does not hold that leave is given him to make of himself the utmost that he can." "And what is that ?" she said quietly.
Nobody spoke; and then Rufus said, not quietly, "Depends on circumstances, ma'am; -- some one thing and some another." "My son Rufus, -- we all have the same interest at heart with you." "I am sorry for it, ma'am; I would rather be disappointed alone." "I hope there will be no disappointment -- I do not look for any, in the end.

Cannot you bear a little present disappointment ?" "I do bear it, ma'am." "But Winthrop has the very same things at stake as you have, and I do not see him wear such a disconsolate face, -- ever." "Winthrop -- " the speaker began, and paused, every feature of his fine face working with emotion.

His hearers waited, but whatever lay behind, nothing more of his meaning came out.
"Winthrop what?
-- " said his brother laughing.
"You are provokingly cool!" said the other, his eye changing again.
"You have a right to find fault with that," said Winthrop still laughing, "for certainly it is a quality with which _you_ never provoked anybody." Rufus seemed to be swallowing more provocation than he had expressed.
"What were you going to say of me, Rufus ?" said the other seriously.
"Nothing -- " "If you meant to say that I have not the same reason to be disappointed that you have, you are quite right." "I meant to say that; and I meant to say that you do not feel _any_ disappointment as much as I do." Winthrop did not attempt to mend this position.

He only mended the fire.
"I wish you need not be disappointed!" the mother said sighing, looking at the fire with a very earnest face.
"My dear mother," said Winthrop cheerfully, "it is no use to wish that in this world." "Yes it is -- for there is a way to escape disappointments, -- if you would take it." "To escape disappointments!" said Rufus.
"Yes." "What is it ?" "Will you promise to follow it ?" "No mother," he said, with again a singular play of light and shade over his face; -- "for it will be sure to be some impossible way.