Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter II
Hobbs,”hesaid,“doyourememberwhatweweretalkingaboutyesterdaymorning?”
“Well,”repliedMr.Hobbs,—“seemstomeitwasEngland.”
“Yes,”saidCedric;“butjustwhenMarycameforme,youknow?”
Mr.Hobbsrubbedthebackofhishead.
“WeWASmentioningQueenVictoriaandthearistocracy.”
“Yes,”saidCedric,ratherhesitatingly,“and—andearls;don’tyouknow?”
“Why,yes,”returnedMr.Hobbs;“weDIDtouch’emupalittle;that’sso!”
Cedricflusheduptothecurlybangonhisforehead.Nothingsoembarrassingasthishadeverhappenedtohiminhislife.HewasalittleafraidthatitmightbeatrifleembarrassingtoMr.Hobbs,too.
“Yousaid,”heproceeded,“thatyouwouldn’thavethemsitting’roundonyourcracker-barrels.”
“SoIdid!”returnedMr.Hobbs,stoutly.“AndImeantit.Let’emtryit—that’sall!”
“Mr.Hobbs,”saidCedric,“oneissittingonthisboxnow!”
Mr.Hobbsalmostjumpedoutofhischair.
“What!”heexclaimed.
“Yes,”Cedricannounced,withduemodesty;“Iamone—orIamgoingtobe.Iwon’tdeceiveyou.”
Mr.Hobbslookedagitated.Heroseupsuddenlyandwenttolookatthethermometer.
“Themercury’sgotintoyourhead!”heexclaimed,turningbacktoexaminehisyoungfriend’scountenance.“ItISahotday!Howdoyoufeel?Gotanypain?Whendidyoubegintofeelthatway?”
Heputhisbighandonthelittleboy’shair.Thiswasmoreembarrassingthanever.
“Thankyou,”saidCeddie;“I’mallright.Thereisnothingthematterwithmyhead.
