Кентервільський привид
Chapter 7
Theywereperfectlymagnificent,especiallyacertainrubynecklacewitholdVenetiansetting,whichwasreallyasuperbspecimenofsixteenth-centurywork, andtheirvaluewassogreatthatMr.Otisfeltconsiderablescruplesaboutallowinghisdaughtertoacceptthem.
"Mylord,"hesaid,"Iknowthatinthiscountrymortmainisheldtoapplytotrinketsaswellastoland,anditisquitecleartomethatthesejewelsare,orshouldbe,heirloomsinyourfamily. Imustbegyou,accordingly,totakethemtoLondonwithyou,andtoregardthemsimplyasaportionofyourpropertywhichhasbeenrestoredtoyouundercertainstrangeconditions. Asformydaughter,sheismerelyachild,andhasasyet,Iamgladtosay,butlittleinterestinsuchappurtenancesofidleluxury. IamalsoinformedbyMrs.Otis,who,Imaysay,isnomeanauthorityuponArt,—havinghadtheprivilegeofspendingseveralwintersinBostonwhenshewasagirl,—thatthesegemsareofgreatmonetaryworth,andifofferedforsalewouldfetchatallprice. Underthesecircumstances,LordCanterville,Ifeelsurethatyouwillrecognizehowimpossibleitwouldbeformetoallowthemtoremaininthepossessionofanymemberofmyfamily; and,indeed,allsuchvaingaudsandtoys,howeversuitableornecessarytothedignityoftheBritisharistocracy,wouldbecompletelyoutofplaceamongthosewhohavebeenbroughtuponthesevere,andIbelieveimmortal,principlesofRepublicansimplicity. PerhapsIshouldmentionthatVirginiaisveryanxiousthatyoushouldallowhertoretainthebox,asamementoofyourunfortunatebutmisguidedancestor. Asitisextremelyold,andconsequentlyagooddealoutofrepair,youmayperhapsthinkfittocomplywithherrequest. Formyownpart,IconfessIamagooddealsurprisedtofindachildofmineexpressingsympathywithmedievalisminanyform,andcanonlyaccountforitbythefactthatVirginiawasborninoneofyourLondonsuburbsshortlyafterMrs.OtishadreturnedfromatriptoAthens."
