Chapter : 12 Kapitel : 12 Chapitre : 12

A very few days after the dinner party at the Castle, almost everybody in England who read the newspapers at all knew the romantic story of what had happened at Dorincourt. Pocos días después de la cena en el Castle, casi todos los que leían los periódicos en Inglaterra conocían la historia romántica de lo que había sucedido en Dorincourt. It made a very interesting story when it was told with all the details. There was the little American boy who had been brought to England to be Lord Fauntleroy, and who was said to be so fine and handsome a little fellow, and to have already made people fond of him; there was the old Earl, his grandfather, who was so proud of his heir; there was the pretty young mother who had never been forgiven for marrying Captain Errol; and there was the strange marriage of Bevis, the dead Lord Fauntleroy, and the strange wife, of whom no one knew anything, suddenly appearing with her son, and saying that he was the real Lord Fauntleroy and must have his rights. All these things were talked about and written about, and caused a tremendous sensation. And then there came the rumor that the Earl of Dorincourt was not satisfied with the turn affairs had taken, and would perhaps contest the claim by law, and the matter might end with a wonderful trial. Y luego llegó el rumor de que el conde de Dorincourt no estaba satisfecho con el giro que habían tomado los asuntos, y tal vez impugnaría el reclamo por la ley, y el asunto podría terminar con un juicio maravilloso.

There never had been such excitement before in the county in which Erleboro was situated. On market-days, people stood in groups and talked and wondered what would be done; the farmers' wives invited one another to tea that they might tell one another all they had heard and all they thought and all they thought other people thought. They related wonderful anecdotes about the Earl's rage and his determination not to acknowledge the new Lord Fauntleroy, and his hatred of the woman who was the claimant's mother. But, of course, it was Mrs. Dibble who could tell the most, and who was more in demand than ever. Pero, por supuesto, fue la Sra. Dibble quien más podía decir y quien estaba más solicitada que nunca.

"An' a bad lookout it is," she said. "Y un mal vigía que es", dijo. "An' if you were to ask me, ma'am, I should say as it was a judgment on him for the way he's treated that sweet young cre'tur' as he parted from her child,—for he's got that fond of him an' that set on him an' that proud of him as he's a'most drove mad by what's happened. "Y si tuviera que preguntarme, señora, diría que fue un juicio sobre él por la forma en que trató a esa dulce criatura cuando se separó de su hijo, porque le tiene mucho cariño". él y eso se ensaña con él y está tan orgulloso de él que está casi enloquecido por lo que ha sucedido. An' what's more, this new one's no lady, as his little lordship's ma is. Y lo que es más, esta nueva no es una dama, como lo es la madre de su pequeño señor. She's a bold-faced, black-eyed thing, as Mr. Thomas says no gentleman in livery 'u'd bemean hisself to be gave orders by; and let her come into the house, he says, an' he goes out of it. Es una cosa de cara atrevida y ojos negros, como dice el señor Thomas que ningún caballero con librea se atrevería a recibir órdenes; y déjala entrar en la casa, dice, y sale de ella. An' the boy don't no more compare with the other one than nothin' you could mention. An' mercy knows what's goin' to come of it all, an' where it's to end, an' you might have knocked me down with a feather when Jane brought the news." Y la misericordia sabe lo que va a salir de todo esto, y dónde va a terminar, y es posible que me hayas derribado con una pluma cuando Jane me trajo la noticia. In fact there was excitement everywhere at the Castle: in the library, where the Earl and Mr. Havisham sat and talked; in the servants' hall, where Mr. Thomas and the butler and the other men and women servants gossiped and exclaimed at all times of the day; and in the stables, where Wilkins went about his work in a quite depressed state of mind, and groomed the brown pony more beautifully than ever, and said mournfully to the coachman that he "never taught a young gen'leman to ride as took to it more nat'ral, or was a better-plucked one than he was. |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||homme||||||||||||||||| He was a one as it were some pleasure to ride behind." Era un uno como si fuera un placer viajar detrás". But in the midst of all the disturbance there was one person who was quite calm and untroubled. That person was the little Lord Fauntleroy who was said not to be Lord Fauntleroy at all. When first the state of affairs had been explained to him, he had felt some little anxiousness and perplexity, it is true, but its foundation was not in baffled ambition. Cuando le explicaron por primera vez el estado de las cosas, sintió cierta inquietud y perplejidad, es cierto, pero su base no estaba en la ambición frustrada.

While the Earl told him what had happened, he had sat on a stool holding on to his knee, as he so often did when he was listening to anything interesting; and by the time the story was finished he looked quite sober. ||||||||||||||tenant|||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Pendant que le comte lui racontait ce qui s'était passé, il était assis sur un tabouret en tenant son genou, comme il le faisait si souvent quand il écoutait quelque chose d'intéressant ; et lorsque l'histoire fut terminée, il avait l'air tout à fait sobre.

"It makes me feel very queer," he said; "it makes me feel—queer!" "Me hace sentir muy extraño", dijo; "Me hace sentir... ¡raro!" "Cela me rend très étrange," dit-il ; "cela me fait me sentir - étrange !" The Earl looked at the boy in silence. Le comte regarda le garçon en silence. It made him feel queer, too—queerer than he had ever felt in his whole life. And he felt more queer still when he saw that there was a troubled expression on the small face which was usually so happy. Et il se sentit encore plus étrange en voyant qu'il y avait une expression troublée sur le petit visage qui était habituellement si heureux.

"Will they take Dearest's house from her—and her carriage?" |||de Dearest|||||| "Vont-ils prendre la maison de Chérie—et sa voiture ?" Cedric asked in a rather unsteady, anxious little voice. Demanda Cedric d'une voix plutôt hésitante et anxieuse.

"NO!" said the Earl decidedly—in quite a loud voice, in fact. "They can take nothing from her." "Ah!" said Cedric, with evident relief. "Can't they?" Then he looked up at his grandfather, and there was a wistful shade in his eyes, and they looked very big and soft.

"That other boy," he said rather tremulously—"he will have to—to be your boy now—as I was—won't he?" "Ese otro chico", dijo algo trémulamente, "tendrá que ser tu chico ahora, como lo fui yo, ¿no?" 'Die andere jongen,' zei hij nogal beverig - 'hij zal - om nu jouw jongen te zijn - zoals ik was - nietwaar?' "NO!" answered the Earl—and he said it so fiercely and loudly that Cedric quite jumped.

"No?" he exclaimed, in wonderment. exclamó, asombrado. "Won't he? I thought——" He stood up from his stool quite suddenly.

"Shall I be your boy, even if I'm not going to be an earl?" he said.

"Shall I be your boy, just as I was before?" And his flushed little face was all alight with eagerness. Y su carita sonrojada estaba toda iluminada por la ansiedad. Et son petit visage rougi était illuminé par l'ardeur.

How the old Earl did look at him from head to foot, to be sure! ¡Cómo lo miró el viejo conde de pies a cabeza, sin duda! Comme le vieux Comte le regardait de la tête aux pieds, c'est sûr ! How his great shaggy brows did draw themselves together, and how queerly his deep eyes shone under them—how very queerly! Comme ses grandes sourcils hirsutes se rapprochaient, et comme ses yeux profonds brillaient étrangement en dessous—comme c'était très étrange !

"My boy!" he said—and, if you'll believe it, his very voice was queer, almost shaky and a little broken and hoarse, not at all what you would expect an Earl's voice to be, though he spoke more decidedly and peremptorily even than before,—"Yes, you'll be my boy as long as I live; and, by George, sometimes I feel as if you were the only boy I had ever had." —dijo, y, si lo creen, su misma voz era rara, casi temblorosa y un poco quebrada y ronca, para nada lo que uno esperaría que fuera la voz de un conde, aunque habló con más decisión y perentoria incluso que antes. ,—"Sí, serás mi hijo mientras yo viva; y, por George, a veces siento como si fueras el único hijo que he tenido". zei hij - en als je het wilt geloven, was zijn stem eigenaardig, bijna trillend en een beetje gebroken en schor, helemaal niet wat je zou verwachten van de stem van een graaf, hoewel hij zelfs beslister en dwingender sprak dan voorheen ,-"Ja, je zult mijn jongen zijn zolang ik leef; en bij George, soms heb ik het gevoel dat je de enige jongen bent die ik ooit heb gehad." Cedric's face turned red to the roots of his hair; it turned red with relief and pleasure. Le visage de Cédric est devenu rouge jusqu'aux racines de ses cheveux ; il est devenu rouge de soulagement et de plaisir. He put both his hands deep into his pockets and looked squarely into his noble relative's eyes. Metió ambas manos en los bolsillos y miró directamente a los ojos de su noble pariente. Il mit les deux mains profondément dans ses poches et regarda droit dans les yeux de son noble parent. Hij stak beide handen diep in zijn zakken en keek zijn edele bloedverwant recht in de ogen. "Do you?" "Et toi ?" he said.

"Well, then, I don't care about the earl part at all. "Bueno, entonces, no me importa la parte del conde en absoluto. I don't care whether I'm an earl or not. I thought—you see, I thought the one that was going to be the Earl would have to be your boy, too, and—and I couldn't be. Je pensais—vous voyez, je pensais que celui qui allait devenir le comte devrait aussi être votre garçon, et—et je ne pouvais pas l'être. That was what made me feel so queer." C'est cela qui m'a fait me sentir si étrange. The Earl put his hand on his shoulder and drew him nearer. El conde le puso la mano en el hombro y lo acercó. Le comte a mis sa main sur son épaule et l'a attiré plus près.

"They shall take nothing from you that I can hold for you," he said, drawing his breath hard. "Ils ne te prendront rien que je ne puisse garder pour toi," dit-il, en respirant difficilement. "I won't believe yet that they can take anything from you. "Todavía no voy a creer que puedan quitarte nada. "Je ne croirai pas encore qu'ils puissent te prendre quoi que ce soit. You were made for the place, and—well, you may fill it still. Fuiste hecho para el lugar y... bueno, aún puedes llenarlo. Tu étais fait pour cet endroit, et—eh bien, tu peux encore l'occuper. But whatever comes, you shall have all that I can give you—all!" Mais quoi qu'il arrive, tu auras tout ce que je peux te donner—tout ! It scarcely seemed as if he were speaking to a child, there was such determination in his face and voice; it was more as if he were making a promise to himself—and perhaps he was. On aurait à peine dit qu'il s'adressait à un enfant, il y avait une telle détermination sur son visage et dans sa voix ; c'était plutôt comme s'il faisait une promesse à lui-même—et peut-être que c'était le cas.

He had never before known how deep a hold upon him his fondness for the boy and his pride in him had taken. Nunca antes había sabido cuán profundamente había arraigado en él su cariño por el niño y su orgullo por él. Il n'avait jamais su auparavant à quel point son attachement pour le garçon et sa fierté en lui avaient pris racine. He had never seen his strength and good qualities and beauty as he seemed to see them now. Il n'avait jamais vu sa force, ses bonnes qualités et sa beauté comme il semblait les voir maintenant. To his obstinate nature it seemed impossible—more than impossible—to give up what he had so set his heart upon. A su naturaleza obstinada le parecía imposible, más que imposible, renunciar a lo que tanto había puesto en su corazón. Pour sa nature obstinée, il semblait impossible - plus qu'impossible - de renoncer à ce qu'il avait tant désiré. And he had determined that he would not give it up without a fierce struggle. Et il avait décidé qu'il ne renoncerait pas sans une lutte acharnée.

Within a few days after she had seen Mr. Havisham, the woman who claimed to be Lady Fauntleroy presented herself at the Castle, and brought her child with her. Quelques jours après avoir vu M. Havisham, la femme qui prétendait être Lady Fauntleroy s'est présentée au Château et a amené son enfant avec elle. She was sent away. La enviaron lejos. Elle a été renvoyée. The Earl would not see her, she was told by the footman at the door; his lawyer would attend to her case. On lui a dit par le valet de pied à la porte que le Comte ne souhaitait pas la voir ; son avocat s'occuperait de son cas. It was Thomas who gave the message, and who expressed his opinion of her freely afterward, in the servants' hall. C'était Thomas qui a donné le message, et qui a exprimé son opinion sur elle librement ensuite, dans la salle des employés. He "hoped," he said, "as he had wore livery in 'igh famblies long enough to know a lady when he see one, an' if that was a lady he was no judge o' females." ||||||||||high||||||||||||||||||||||| Él "esperaba", dijo, "ya que había usado librea en 'altas familias' el tiempo suficiente para reconocer a una dama cuando la veía, y si se trataba de una dama, no podía juzgar a las mujeres". Il "espérait," dit-il, "comme il avait porté une livrée dans de 'hautes familles suffisamment longtemps pour savoir quand il en voit une, et si c'était une dame, il n'avait pas de juge pour les femmes." "The one at the Lodge," added Thomas loftily, "'Merican or no 'Merican, she's one o' the right sort, as any gentleman 'u'd reckinize with all a heye. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||œil —La del Lodge —añadió Thomas con altivez—, americana o no americana, es del tipo adecuado, como cualquier caballero al que reconocerías con un ojo. "Celle qui est au Lodge," ajouta Thomas avec fierté, "qu'elle soit Américaine ou non, c'est l'une de la bonne sorte, comme tout gentleman 'u'd reconnaît avec tous ses yeux." I remarked it myself to Henery when fust we called there." |||||Henery||||| Yo mismo se lo comenté a Henery cuando llamamos allí por primera vez. Je l'ai moi-même remarqué à Henery lorsque nous y avons appelé pour la première fois. The woman drove away; the look on her handsome, common face half frightened, half fierce. ||||||||||||effrayé|| La mujer se alejó; la expresión de su hermoso rostro común era mitad asustada, mitad feroz. La femme s'est éloignée; l'expression sur son beau visage commun était à la fois effrayante et féroce. Mr. Havisham had noticed, during his interviews with her, that though she had a passionate temper, and a coarse, insolent manner, she was neither so clever nor so bold as she meant to be; she seemed sometimes to be almost overwhelmed by the position in which she had placed herself. El señor Havisham se había dado cuenta, durante sus entrevistas con ella, de que, aunque tenía un temperamento apasionado y unos modales toscos e insolentes, no era ni tan inteligente ni tan atrevida como pretendía ser; a veces parecía casi abrumada por la posición en la que se había colocado. M. Havisham avait remarqué, lors de ses entretiens avec elle, que bien qu'elle ait un tempérament passionné et une manière vulgaire et insolente, elle n'était ni aussi intelligente ni aussi audacieuse qu'elle prétendait l'être; elle semblait parfois presque accablée par la position dans laquelle elle s'était mise. It was as if she had not expected to meet with such opposition. C'était comme si elle ne s'attendait pas à rencontrer une telle opposition.

"She is evidently," the lawyer said to Mrs. Errol, "a person from the lower walks of life. "Ella es evidentemente", dijo el abogado a la Sra. Errol, "una persona de los estratos más bajos de la vida. "Elle est manifestement," dit l'avocat à Mme Errol, "une personne des classes inférieures. She is uneducated and untrained in everything, and quite unused to meeting people like ourselves on any terms of equality. Ella no tiene educación ni capacitación en todo, y no está acostumbrada a encontrarse con personas como nosotros en términos de igualdad. Elle est non éduquée et non formée à quoi que ce soit, et tout à fait peu habituée à rencontrer des gens comme nous sur un pied d'égalité. She does not know what to do. Her visit to the Castle quite cowed her. ||||||a intimidé| Sa visite au château l'a plutôt intimidée. She was infuriated, but she was cowed. ||||||intimidée Estaba furiosa, pero estaba acobardada. Elle était furieuse, mais elle était intimidée. The Earl would not receive her, but I advised him to go with me to the Dorincourt Arms, where she is staying. El conde no quiso recibirla, pero le aconsejé que me acompañara al Dorincourt Arms, donde se hospeda. Le Comte ne voulait pas la recevoir, mais je lui ai conseillé d'aller avec moi aux Dorincourt Arms, où elle séjourne. When she saw him enter the room, she turned white, though she flew into a rage at once, and threatened and demanded in one breath." Cuando lo vio entrar en la habitación, se puso pálida, aunque se enfureció de inmediato y amenazó y exigió al mismo tiempo". Quand elle le vit entrer dans la pièce, elle devint blanche, bien qu'elle se mit immédiatement en colère et menaça et exigea en une seule respiration. The fact was that the Earl had stalked into the room and stood, looking like a venerable aristocratic giant, staring at the woman from under his beetling brows, and not condescending a word. ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||daignant|| El hecho era que el conde había entrado en la habitación y se había quedado de pie, como un venerable gigante aristocrático, mirando a la mujer por debajo de sus cejas pobladas y sin condescender una palabra. Le fait était que le Comte était entré dans la pièce avec assurance et se tenait là, ressemblant à un vénérable géant aristocratique, fixant la femme sous ses sourcils proéminents, sans dire un mot. Het was een feit dat de graaf de kamer was binnengeslopen en daar stond, eruitziend als een eerbiedwaardige aristocratische reus, de vrouw vanonder zijn fronsende wenkbrauwen aanstarend zonder een woord neerbuigend te doen. He simply stared at her, taking her in from head to foot as if she were some repulsive curiosity. Él simplemente la miró fijamente, observándola de pies a cabeza como si fuera una curiosidad repulsiva. Il se contentait de la fixer, l'observant de la tête aux pieds comme si elle était une curiosité répugnante. He let her talk and demand until she was tired, without himself uttering a word, and then he said:

"You say you are my eldest son's wife. If that is true, and if the proof you offer is too much for us, the law is on your side. Si cela est vrai, et si la preuve que vous offrez est trop forte pour nous, la loi est de votre côté. In that case, your boy is Lord Fauntleroy. Dans ce cas, votre garçon est Lord Fauntleroy. The matter will be sifted to the bottom, you may rest assured. El asunto será tamizado hasta el fondo, puede estar seguro. L'affaire sera examinée en profondeur, vous pouvez en être assuré. If your claims are proved, you will be provided for. Si se prueban sus afirmaciones, se le proveerá. Si vos revendications sont prouvées, vous serez pourvu. I want to see nothing of either you or the child so long as I live. Je ne veux rien voir de vous ni de l'enfant tant que je vivrai. The place will unfortunately have enough of you after my death. Desafortunadamente, el lugar tendrá suficiente de ti después de mi muerte. L'endroit aura malheureusement suffisamment de vous après ma mort. You are exactly the kind of person I should have expected my son Bevis to choose." And then he turned his back upon her and stalked out of the room as he had stalked into it. Y luego le dio la espalda y salió de la habitación como había entrado.

Not many days after that, a visitor was announced to Mrs. Errol, who was writing in her little morning room. No muchos días después de eso, se anunció una visita a la Sra. Errol, quien estaba escribiendo en su pequeña sala de estar. The maid, who brought the message, looked rather excited; her eyes were quite round with amazement, in fact, and being young and inexperienced, she regarded her mistress with nervous sympathy. La criada, que trajo el mensaje, parecía bastante emocionada; sus ojos estaban muy abiertos por el asombro, de hecho, y siendo joven e inexperta, miró a su ama con nerviosa simpatía. La femme de chambre, qui a apporté le message, avait l'air plutôt excitée ; ses yeux étaient tout ronds d'étonnement, en fait, et étant jeune et inexpérimentée, elle regardait sa maîtresse avec une sympathie nerveuse.

"It's the Earl hisself, ma'am!" "C'est le comte lui-même, madame !" she said in tremulous awe. dijo con trémulo asombro. dit-elle avec une awe tremblante.

When Mrs. Errol entered the drawing-room, a very tall, majestic-looking old man was standing on the tiger-skin rug. Lorsque Mme Errol entra dans le salon, un homme très grand et majestueux se tenait sur le tapis en peau de tigre. He had a handsome, grim old face, with an aquiline profile, a long white mustache, and an obstinate look. Il avait un beau visage sévère, avec un profil aquilin, une longue moustache blanche et un air obstiné.

"Mrs. Errol, I believe?" "Mme Errol, je crois ?" he said.

"Mrs. Errol," she answered. "I am the Earl of Dorincourt," he said. He paused a moment, almost unconsciously, to look into her uplifted eyes. Il s'est arrêté un instant, presque inconsciemment, pour regarder dans ses yeux levés. They were so like the big, affectionate, childish eyes he had seen uplifted to his own so often every day during the last few months, that they gave him a quite curious sensation. Se parecían tanto a los ojos grandes, afectuosos e infantiles que había visto levantarse hacia los suyos tantas veces todos los días durante los últimos meses, que le producían una sensación bastante curiosa. Ils ressemblaient tellement aux grands yeux affectueux et enfantins qu'il avait souvent vus levés vers les siens ces derniers mois, qu'ils lui procuraient une sensation assez curieuse.

"The boy is very like you," he said abruptly. "Le garçon te ressemble beaucoup," dit-il abruptement. "It has been often said so, my lord," she replied, "but I have been glad to think him like his father also." —Se ha dicho eso a menudo, mi señor —respondió ella—, pero me alegro de pensar que él también es como su padre. As Lady Lorridaile had told him, her voice was very sweet, and her manner was very simple and dignified. She did not seem in the least troubled by his sudden coming.

"Yes," said the Earl, "he is like—my son—too." He put his hand up to his big white mustache and pulled it fiercely. "Do you know," he said, "why I have come here?" "I have seen Mr. Havisham," Mrs. Errol began, "and he has told me of the claims which have been made——" "I have come to tell you," said the Earl, "that they will be investigated and contested, if a contest can be made. "He venido a decirles", dijo el conde, "que serán investigados y contestados, si es que se puede hacer un concurso. I have come to tell you that the boy shall be defended with all the power of the law. His rights——" The soft voice interrupted him.

"He must have nothing that is NOT his by right, even if the law can give it to him," she said. "Il ne doit rien avoir qui ne lui revienne pas de droit, même si la loi peut le lui donner," dit-elle. "Unfortunately the law can not," said the Earl. "Malheureusement, la loi ne le peut pas," dit le Comte. "If it could, it should. "Si elle le pouvait, elle devrait." This outrageous woman and her child——" "Perhaps she cares for him as much as I care for Cedric, my lord," said little Mrs. Errol. "And if she was your eldest son's wife, her son is Lord Fauntleroy, and mine is not." "Et si elle était la femme de votre fils aîné, son fils est Lord Fauntleroy, et le mien ne l'est pas." She was no more afraid of him than Cedric had been, and she looked at him just as Cedric would have looked, and he, having been an old tyrant all his life, was privately pleased by it. Elle n'avait pas plus peur de lui que Cedric n'en avait, et elle le regardait exactement comme Cedric l'aurait fait, et lui, ayant été un vieux tyran toute sa vie, en était secrètement satisfait. People so seldom dared to differ from him that there was an entertaining novelty in it. Les gens osaient si rarement lui faire opposition qu'il y avait une nouveauté divertissante à cela.

"I suppose," he said, scowling slightly, "that you would much prefer that he should not be the Earl of Dorincourt." "Je suppose," dit-il en fronçant légèrement les sourcils, "que vous préféreriez qu'il ne soit pas le comte de Dorincourt." Her fair young face flushed. Son joli visage jeune s'empourpra.

"It is a very magnificent thing to be the Earl of Dorincourt, my lord," she said. "C'est une chose très magnifique d'être le comte de Dorincourt, mon seigneur," dit-elle. "I know that, but I care most that he should be what his father was—brave and just and true always." "Lo sé, pero lo que más me importa es que sea lo que fue su padre: valiente, justo y sincero siempre". "In striking contrast to what his grandfather was, eh?" "En marcado contraste con lo que era su abuelo, ¿eh?" said his lordship sardonically.

"I have not had the pleasure of knowing his grandfather," replied Mrs. Errol, "but I know my little boy believes——" She stopped short a moment, looking quietly into his face, and then she added, "I know that Cedric loves you." "Would he have loved me," said the Earl dryly, "if you had told him why I did not receive you at the Castle?" "¿Me habría amado", dijo el conde secamente, "si le hubieras dicho por qué no te recibí en el castillo?" "M'aurait-il aimé," dit le comte sèchement, "si tu lui avais dit pourquoi je ne t'ai pas reçu au Château?" "No," answered Mrs. Errol, "I think not. "Non," répondit Madame Errol, "je ne pense pas. That was why I did not wish him to know." C'est pourquoi je ne souhaitais pas qu'il le sache." "Well," said my lord brusquely, "there are few women who would not have told him." "Eh bien," dit mon seigneur brusquement, "il y a peu de femmes qui ne lui auraient pas dit." He suddenly began to walk up and down the room, pulling his great mustache more violently than ever. Il a soudain commencé à marcher de long en large dans la pièce, tirant sa grande moustache plus violemment que jamais.

"Yes, he is fond of me," he said, "and I am fond of him. "Oui, il m'aime bien," dit-il, "et je l'aime bien aussi. I can't say I ever was fond of anything before. I am fond of him. He pleased me from the first. I am an old man, and was tired of my life. He has given me something to live for. I am proud of him. I was satisfied to think of his taking his place some day as the head of the family." He came back and stood before Mrs. Errol.

"I am miserable," he said. "Miserable!" He looked as if he was. Even his pride could not keep his voice steady or his hands from shaking. For a moment it almost seemed as if his deep, fierce eyes had tears in them. "Perhaps it is because I am miserable that I have come to you," he said, quite glaring down at her. "Tal vez es porque me siento miserable por lo que he venido a ti", dijo, mirándola fijamente. "Peut-être est-ce parce que je suis misérable que je suis venu vous voir," dit-il, en la regardant fixement. "I used to hate you; I have been jealous of you. "Je te détestais autrefois ; j'ai été jaloux de toi. This wretched, disgraceful business has changed that. Este miserable y vergonzoso negocio ha cambiado eso. Cette affaire misérable et scandaleuse a changé cela. After seeing that repulsive woman who calls herself the wife of my son Bevis, I actually felt it would be a relief to look at you. I have been an obstinate old fool, and I suppose I have treated you badly. You are like the boy, and the boy is the first object in my life. I am miserable, and I came to you merely because you are like the boy, and he cares for you, and I care for him. Treat me as well as you can, for the boy's sake." Trátame lo mejor que puedas, por el bien del niño. Traite-moi aussi bien que tu le peux, pour le bien du garçon. He said it all in his harsh voice, and almost roughly, but somehow he seemed so broken down for the time that Mrs. Errol was touched to the heart. Il l'a dit tout d'une voix dure, presque avec rudesse, mais en quelque sorte, il semblait si abattu à ce moment-là que Mme Errol en fut touchée au cœur. She got up and moved an arm-chair a little forward. Se levantó y adelantó un poco un sillón. Elle se leva et déplaça un fauteuil un peu en avant.

"I wish you would sit down," she said in a soft, pretty, sympathetic way. "You have been so much troubled that you are very tired, and you need all your strength." It was just as new to him to be spoken to and cared for in that gentle, simple way as it was to be contradicted. C'était tout aussi nouveau pour lui d'être parlé et pris en charge de cette manière douce et simple que de se faire contredire. He was reminded of "the boy" again, and he actually did as she asked him. Il se rappela "le garçon" encore une fois, et il fit réellement ce qu'elle lui avait demandé. Perhaps his disappointment and wretchedness were good discipline for him; if he had not been wretched he might have continued to hate her, but just at present he found her a little soothing. Quizá su desilusión y miseria fueron buena disciplina para él; si no hubiera sido un desgraciado, podría haber seguido odiándola, pero en ese momento la encontraba un poco tranquilizadora. Peut-être que sa déception et son malheur étaient une bonne discipline pour lui ; s'il n'avait pas été malheureux, il aurait pu continuer à la détester, mais en ce moment précis, il la trouvait un peu apaisante. Almost anything would have seemed pleasant by contrast with Lady Fauntleroy; and this one had so sweet a face and voice, and a pretty dignity when she spoke or moved. À peu près n'importe quoi aurait semblé agréable en contraste avec Lady Fauntleroy ; et celle-ci avait un visage et une voix si doux, et une jolie dignité quand elle parlait ou se mouvait. Very soon, through the quiet magic of these influences, he began to feel less gloomy, and then he talked still more. Très vite, grâce à la magie tranquille de ces influences, il commença à se sentir moins sombre, et ensuite il parla encore plus.

"Whatever happens," he said, "the boy shall be provided for. "Quoi qu'il arrive," dit-il, "l'enfant sera pris en charge. He shall be taken care of, now and in the future." Il sera pris en charge, maintenant et à l'avenir. Before he went away, he glanced around the room. Avant de partir, il a jeté un coup d'œil autour de la pièce.

"Do you like the house?" « Aimes-tu la maison ? » he demanded.

"Very much," she answered. "This is a cheerful room," he said. "May I come here again and talk this matter over?" "Puis-je revenir ici et parler de cette affaire ?" "As often as you wish, my lord," she replied. "Aussi souvent que vous le souhaitez, mon seigneur," répondit-elle. And then he went out to his carriage and drove away, Thomas and Henry almost stricken dumb upon the box at the turn affairs had taken. Y luego salió a su carruaje y se alejó, Thomas y Henry casi se quedaron mudos sobre el palco por el giro que habían tomado los asuntos. Et puis il sortit vers sa voiture et s'en alla, Thomas et Henry presque muets sur le siège à cause du tournant que prenaient les affaires.