burning firebrands. Winthrop stood looking on, while Rufus,
the beefsteak, and the smoke, seemed mutually intent upon each
other. It was a question of time, and patience; not to speak
of fortitude.

"Winthrop," said Rufus changing hands with his fork, -- "have
you any coffee?"

"No sir."

"Tea?"

"No."

"Out of both?"

"For some time."

"Do you live without it?"

"I live without it."

"Without either of them?"

"Without either of them."

"Then how in the world _do_ you live?" said Rufus turning his
beefsteak in a very gingerly manner and not daring to take his
eyes from it.

"Without combustibles -- as I told you."

"I should think so!" exclaimed his brother. "You are the
coolest, toughest, most stubborn and unimpressible piece of
sensibility, that ever lived in a garret and deserved to live
-- somewhere else."

"Doubtful strain of commendation," said Winthrop. "What has
brought you to Mannahatta?"

"But Winthrop, this is a new fancy of yours?"

"No, not very."

"How long since?"

"Since what?"

"Since you gave up all the good things of this life?"

"A man can only give up what he has," said Winthrop. "Those I
delivered into your hands some ten minutes ago."

"But tea and coffee -- You used to drink them?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you?"

"For a variety of reasons, satisfactory to my own mind."

"And have you abjured butter too?"

"I am sorry, Will," said Winthrop smiling a little, -- "I will
try to have some butter for you to-morrow."

"Don't you eat it in ordinary?"

"Always, when I can get it. What has brought you to
Mannahatta?"

"What do you think?"

"Some rash scheme or resolution."

"Why?"

"From my judgment of your character, which might be stated as
the converse of that just now so happily applied to me."

"And do natures the opposite of that never act otherwise than
rashly?"

"I hope so; for as the coolest are sometimes excited, so the
hot may be sometimes cool."

"And don't I look cool?"

"You did when you came in," said Winthrop.

"I should think living on bread and milk might help that, in
ordinary," said Rufus. "Just in my present condition it has
rather a different effect. Well Governor, I've come to
Mannahatta --"

"I see that," said Winthrop.

"I'll thank you not to interrupt me. I've come to Mannahatta --
on a piece of business."

Winthrop waited, and Rufus after another cut of the bread and
meat, went on.

"Governor, I'm going to quit engin