Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VI
”
ItplainlyhadnotforaninstantoccurredtohimthatNewickwouldbeallowedtodohisworst.
TheEarlpausedamoment,stilllookingathim.“Canyouwrite?”heasked.
“Yes,”answeredCedric,“butnotverywell.”
“Movethethingsfromthetable,”commandedmylord,“andbringthepenandink,andasheetofpaperfrommydesk.”
Mr.Mordaunt’sinterestbegantoincrease.Fauntleroydidashewastoldverydeftly.Inafewmoments,thesheetofpaper,thebiginkstand,andthepenwereready.
“There!”hesaidgayly,“nowyoucanwriteit.”
“Youaretowriteit,”saidtheEarl.
“I!”exclaimedFauntleroy,andaflushoverspreadhisforehead.“WillitdoifIwriteit?Idon’talwaysspellquiterightwhenIhaven’tadictionary,andnobodytellsme.”
“Itwilldo,”answeredtheEarl.“Higginswillnotcomplainofthespelling.I’mnotthephilanthropist;youare.Dipyourpenintheink.”
Fauntleroytookupthepenanddippeditintheink-bottle,thenhearrangedhimselfinposition,leaningonthetable.
“Now,”heinquired,“whatmustIsay?”
“Youmaysay,’Higginsisnottobeinterferedwith,forthepresent,’andsignit,’Fauntleroy,’”saidtheEarl.
Fauntleroydippedhispenintheinkagain,andrestinghisarm,begantowrite.Itwasratheraslowandseriousprocess,buthegavehiswholesoultoit.Afterawhile,however,themanuscriptwascomplete,andhehandedittohisgrandfatherwithasmileslightlytingedwithanxiety.
“Doyouthinkitwilldo?”heasked.
