Stranica 80 [80]
60 LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY.
‘ Well,” he said; "go on. You know I told you not to write to
me about the matter, and I know nothing whatever about it. What
kind of alad is he? I don’t care about the mother; what sort:of a
lad is he?” |
Mr. Havisham drank a little of the glass of port he had poured
out for himself, and sat holding it in his hand.
“Tt is rather difficult to judge of the character of a child of seven, "
he said cautiously.
The Earl’s prejudices were very intense. He looked up quickly
and uttered a rough word.
“A fool, is he?” he exclaimed. ‘Or a clumsy cub? His
American blood tells, does it ? ”
‘1 do not think it has injured him, my lord,” replied the lawyer
in his dry, deliberate fashion. ‘1 dont know much about children,
but | thought him rather a fine lad.”
His manner of speech was always deliberate and unenthusiastic,
but he made it a trifle more so than usual. He had a shrewd fancy
that it would be better that the Earl should judge for himself, and
be quite unprepared for his first interview with his grandson.
“ Healthy and well-grown ?” asked my lord.
‘Apparently very healthy, and quite well-grown,” replied the
lawyer. |
‘ Straight-limbed and well enough to look at? " demanded the Earl.
A very slight smile touched Mr. Havisham’s thin lips. There
rose up before his minds eye the picture he had left at Court Lodge, —
the beautiful, ‘graceful child’s body lying upon the tiger-skin in care¬
less comfort —the bright, tumbled hair spread on the rug— the
bright, rosy boy’s face.
‘“ Rather a handsome boy, I think, my lord, as boys go,” he said,
‘though I am scarcely a judge, perhaps. But you will find him
somewhat different from most English children, I dare say.”