Chapter 7 (4) Kapitel 7 (4) Розділ 7 (4)

Fauntleroy turned quickly to look at him.

"Oh!" he exclaimed, "is it Mr. Higgins?" "Yes," answered the Earl dryly; "and I suppose he came to take a look at his new landlord." "Sì", rispose seccamente il conte, "e suppongo che sia venuto a dare un'occhiata al suo nuovo padrone di casa". "Yes, my lord," said the man, his sunburned face reddening. "Sì, mio signore", disse l'uomo, con il viso arrossato dal sole. "Mr. Newick told me his young lordship was kind enough to speak for me, and I thought I'd like to say a word of thanks, if I might be allowed." Perhaps he felt some wonder when he saw what a little fellow it was who had innocently done so much for him, and who stood there looking up just as one of his own less fortunate children might have done—apparently not realizing his own importance in the least. Forse provò un po' di meraviglia nel vedere che si trattava di un ragazzino che aveva innocentemente fatto tanto per lui, e che se ne stava lì a guardare come avrebbe potuto fare uno dei suoi figli meno fortunati, apparentemente senza rendersi minimamente conto della sua importanza.

"I've a great deal to thank your lordship for," he said; "a great deal. "Ho molte cose per cui ringraziare Vostra Signoria", disse, "molte cose. I——" "Oh," said Fauntleroy; "I only wrote the letter. It was my grandfather who did it. But you know how he is about always being good to everybody. Ma sai com'è, lui è sempre buono con tutti. Is Mrs. Higgins well now?" Higgins looked a trifle taken aback. Higgins sembrò un po' sorpreso. He also was somewhat startled at hearing his noble landlord presented in the character of a benevolent being, full of engaging qualities. Anche lui rimase un po' sorpreso nel sentire il suo nobile padrone di casa presentato come un essere benevolo, pieno di qualità accattivanti.

"I—well, yes, your lordship," he stammered, "the missus is better since the trouble was took off her mind. "Io... beh, sì, Vostra Signoria", balbettò, "la signora sta meglio da quando si è tolta il disturbo. It was worrying broke her down." Era preoccupante farla crollare". "I'm glad of that," said Fauntleroy. "My grandfather was very sorry about your children having the scarlet fever, and so was I. He has had children himself. "Mio nonno era molto dispiaciuto che i vostri figli avessero la scarlattina, e lo ero anch'io. Anche lui ha avuto dei figli. I'm his son's little boy, you know." Higgins was on the verge of being panic-stricken. Higgins era sul punto di farsi prendere dal panico. He felt it would be the safer and more discreet plan not to look at the Earl, as it had been well known that his fatherly affection for his sons had been such that he had seen them about twice a year, and that when they had been ill, he had promptly departed for London, because he would not be bored with doctors and nurses. Pensò che sarebbe stato più sicuro e discreto non guardare il conte, poiché era risaputo che il suo affetto paterno per i figli era tale che li vedeva circa due volte all'anno e che, quando si erano ammalati, era prontamente partito per Londra, per non annoiarsi con medici e infermieri. It was a little trying, therefore, to his lordship's nerves to be told, while he looked on, his eyes gleaming from under his shaggy eyebrows, that he felt an interest in scarlet fever. Perciò fu un po' provante per i nervi di Sua Signoria sentirsi dire, mentre guardava, con gli occhi che brillavano da sotto le sopracciglia arruffate, che provava interesse per la scarlattina. "You see, Higgins," broke in the Earl with a fine grim smile, "you people have been mistaken in me. "Vedete, Higgins", interruppe il conte con un bel sorriso torvo, "voi vi siete sbagliati su di me. Lord Fauntleroy understands me. When you want reliable information on the subject of my character, apply to him. Quando volete informazioni affidabili sul mio personaggio, rivolgetevi a lui. Get into the carriage, Fauntleroy." And Fauntleroy jumped in, and the carriage rolled away down the green lane, and even when it turned the corner into the high road, the Earl was still grimly smiling. Fauntleroy saltò su, e la carrozza rotolò via lungo il viottolo verde, e anche quando girò l'angolo verso la strada principale, il conte sorrideva ancora torvo.