Stranica 81 [81]
LITILE LORD FAUNTLEROY. 61
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"I have nt a doubt of that,” snarled the Earl, a twinge of gout
seizing him. "A lot of impudent little beggars, those American
children ; I "ve heard that often enough.”
‘It is not exactly impudence in his case,” said Mr. Havisham. »
“TI can scarcely describe what the difference is. He has lived more
with older people than with children, and the difference seems tobe
a mixture of maturity and childishness.”
‘“ American impudence!” protested the Earl. "1 ve heard of it
before. They call it precocity and freedom. Beastly, impudent bad
manners; that s what it is!”
Mr. Havisham drank some more port. He seldom argued with
his lordly patron — never when his lordly patron’s noble leg was
inflamed by gout. At such times it was always better to leave him
alone. So there was a silence of a few moments. It was Mr. Hav¬
isham who broke it.
‘| have a message to deliver from Mrs. Errol,” he remarked.
‘1 don’t want any of her messages!” growled his lordship; "the
less I hear of her the better.”
“This is a rather important one,” explained the lawyer. ‘She
prefers not to accept the income you proposed to settle on her.”
The Earl started visibly.
“What s that?” he cried out. ‘What's that?”
Mr. Havisham repeated his words.
‘‘ She says it is not necessary, and that as the relations between
99
you are not friendly
‘ Not friendly!” ejaculated my lord savagely; "1 should say they
were not friendly! I hate to think of her! A mercenary, sharp¬
voiced American! I don’t wish to see her.”
‘My lord,” said Mr. Havisham, "you can scarcely call her mer¬
cenary. She has asked for nothing. ‘She does not accept the
money you offer her.”