Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter XI
“Here’stoHIM!”hesaid,liftinghisglass,“an’mayheteach’emalesson—earlsan’markisesan’dooksan’all!”
Afterthatnight,thetwosaweachotheroften,andMr.Hobbswasmuchmorecomfortableandlessdesolate.TheyreadthePennyStoryGazette,andmanyotherinterestingthings,andgainedaknowledgeofthehabitsofthenobilityandgentrywhichwouldhavesurprisedthosedespisedclassesiftheyhadrealizedit.OnedayMr.Hobbsmadeapilgrimagetoabookstoredowntown,fortheexpresspurposeofaddingtotheirlibrary.Hewenttotheclerkandleanedoverthecountertospeaktohim.
“Iwant,”hesaid,“abookaboutearls.”
“What!”exclaimedtheclerk.
“Abook,”repeatedthegrocery-man,“aboutearls.”
“I’mafraid,”saidtheclerk,lookingratherqueer,“thatwehaven’twhatyouwant.”
“Haven’t?”saidMr.Hobbs,anxiously.“Well,saymarkisesthen—ordooks.”
“Iknowofnosuchbook,”answeredtheclerk.
Mr.Hobbswasmuchdisturbed.Helookeddownonthefloor,—thenhelookedup.
“Noneaboutfemaleearls?”heinquired.
“I’mafraidnot,”saidtheclerkwithasmile.
“Well,”exclaimedMr.Hobbs,“I’llbejiggered!”
Hewasjustgoingoutofthestore,whentheclerkcalledhimbackandaskedhimifastoryinwhichthenobilitywerechiefcharacterswoulddo.Mr.Hobbssaiditwould—ifhecouldnotgetanentirevolumedevotedtoearls.Sotheclerksoldhimabookcalled“TheTowerofLondon,”writtenbyMr.HarrisonAinsworth,andhecarriedithome.
WhenDickcametheybegantoreadit.
