Лавка древностей

Chapter 19

           

           Afterbiddingtheoldmangoodnight,Nellretiredtoherpoorgarret,buthadscarcelyclosedthedoor,whenitwasgentlytappedat.Sheopeneditdirectly,andwasalittlestartledbythesightofMrThomasCodlin,whomshehadleft,toallappearance,fastasleepdownstairs.

           ‘Whatisthematter?’saidthechild.

           ‘Nothing’sthematter,mydear,’returnedhervisitor.‘I’myourfriend.Perhapsyouhaven’tthoughtso,butit’smethat’syourfriendnothim.’

           ‘Notwho?’thechildinquired.

           ‘Short,mydear.Itellyouwhat,’saidCodlin,‘forallhishavingakindofwaywithhimthatyou’dbeveryapttolike,I’mthereal,open-heartedman.Imayn’tlookit,butIamindeed.’

           Thechildbegantobealarmed,consideringthatthealehadtakeneffectuponMrCodlin,andthatthiscommendationofhimselfwastheconsequence.

           ‘Short’sverywell,andseemskind,’resumedthemisanthrope,‘butheoverdoesit.NowIdon’t.’

           CertainlyiftherewereanyfaultinMrCodlin’susualdeportment,itwasthatheratherunderdidhiskindnesstothoseabouthim,thanoverdidit.Butthechildwaspuzzled,andcouldnottellwhattosay.

           ‘Takemyadvice,’saidCodlin:‘don’taskmewhy,buttakeit.Aslongasyoutravelwithus,keepasnearmeasyoucan.Don’toffertoleaveusnotonanyaccountbutalwayssticktomeandsaythatI’myourfriend.Willyoubearthatinmind,mydear,andalwayssaythatitwasmethatwasyourfriend?’

           ‘Saysowhereandwhen?’inquiredthechildinnocently.

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