Stranica 63 [63]
LITILE LORD FAUNTLEROY. 43
i TS = —
‘“] wish ye was nt goin’ away,” he said in a husky voice. Then
he winked his eyes again. Then he looked at Mr. Havisham, and
touched his cap. ‘‘ Thanky, sir, fur bringin’ him down here an fur
wot ye ve done, He ’s—he ’s a queer little feller,” he added.
‘“T ve allers thort a heap of him. Hess such a game little feller,
an’—an’ such a queer little un.”
And when they turned away he stood and looked after them
in a dazed kind of way, and there was still a mist in his eyes, and a
lump in his throat, as he watched the gallant little figure marching
gayly along by the side of its tall, rigid escort.
Until the day of his departure, his lordship spent as much time
as possible with Mr. Hobbs in the store. Gloom had settled upon
Mr. Hobbs; he was much depressed in spirits. When his young friend
brought to him in triumph the parting gift of a gold watch and chain,
Mr. Hobbs found it difficult to acknowledge it properly. He laid the
case on his stout knee, and blew his nose violently several times.
“There "s something written on it,” said Cedric,—‘‘inside the
case. I told the man myself what to say. ‘From his oldest friend,
Lord Fauntleroy, to Mr. Hobbs. When this you see, remember me.’
I don’t want you to forget me.”
Mr. Hobbs blew his nose very loudly again.
"I sha’n’t forget you,” he said, speaking a trifle huskily, as Dick
had spoken; “nor don’t you go and forget me when you get among
the British arrystocracy.”
‘JT should nt forget you, whoever I was among,” answered his
lordship. ‘I’ve spent my happiest hours with you; at least, some
of my happiest hours. I hope you Il come to see me sometime.
I’m sure my grandpapa would be very much pleased. Perhaps he’ll
write and ask you, when I tell him about you. You—you would nt
mind his being an earl, would you? I mean you would n't stay
away just because he was one, if he invited you to come?”