Oldal 81 [81]
OCR
LITILE LORD FAUNTLEROY. 61 ————— —_ — "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. Havisham 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, sharpvoiced American! I don’t wish to see her.” ‘My lord,” said Mr. Havisham, "you can scarcely call her mercenary. She has asked for nothing. ‘She does not accept the money you offer her.”
