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don’t believe it,” said Kit. “Not a word of it. How should they know!”

      “They may be wrong of course,” returned the mother, “but the people say that the old gentleman and Miss Nell have gone to live abroad where they will never be disturbed.”

      Kit scratched his head mournfully. Suddenly a knock at the door was heard. Kit opened the door and saw a little old gentleman and a little old lady.

      “Why, bless me,” cried the old gentleman, “the lad is here! My dear, do you see? This is a very good lad, I’m sure.”

      “I’m sure he is,” rejoined the old lady. “A very good lad, and I am sure he is a good son.”

      The old gentleman then handed the old lady out, and after looking at him with an approving smile, they went into the house.

      “Well, boy,” said the old gentleman, smiling; “We are here before you, you see, Christopher[60].”

      “Yes, sir,” said Kit; and as he said it, he looked towards his mother for an explanation of the visit.

      “This gentleman, Mr. Garland[61], was kind enough, my dear,” said she, in reply to this mute interrogation, “to ask me yesterday whether you were in a good place, or in any place at all, and when I told him no, you were not in any, he was so good as to say that…”

      “That we wanted a good lad in our house,” said the old gentleman and the old lady both together.

      “You see, my good woman,” said Mrs. Garland to Kit’s mother, “that it’s necessary to be very careful and particular in such a matter as this, for we’re only three in family, and are very quiet people, and it would be a sad thing if we made any kind of mistake, and found things different from what we hoped and expected.”

      To this, Kit’s mother replied, that certainly it was quite true, and quite right, and quite proper and her son was a very good son though she was his mother, in which respect, she was bold to say, he took after his father, who was not only a good son to his mother, but the best of husbands and the best of fathers besides. After this long story she wiped her eyes with her apron, and patted her little son’s head, who was staring at the strange lady and gentleman.

      Mr. Garland put some questions to Kit respecting his qualifications and general acquirements. It was settled that Kit would start to work on the next day, and the money is six pound a year. Finally, the little old couple took their leaves; being escorted by their new attendant.

      “Well, mother,” said Kit, hurrying back into the house, “I think my fortune’s about made now.”

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      Примечания

      1

      in china – из фарфора

      2

      Nelly – Нелли

      3

      Kit – Кит

      4

      Kit was at his heels – в сопровождении Кита

      5

      why then – да, признаться

      6

      of standing sideways – стоя боком к собеседнику

      7

      to light him out – посветить ему

      8

      well made – стройный

      9

      Dick Swiveller – Дик Свивеллер

      10

      in an undertone – вполголоса

      11

      Fred – Фред

      12

      body-coat – полуфрак

      13

      gave him the aspect of – придавала ему сходство

      14

      upon his temples – на висках

      15

      Meaning me? – Это вы мне?

      16

      Daniel Quilp – Дэниел Квилп

      17

      into his breast – за пазуху

      18

      needle-work – рукоделье

      19

      Tower Hill – Тауэр-Хилл (небольшая возвышенная местность в Лондоне к северо-западу от Тауэра)

      20

      round jackets – кургузые пиджаки

      21

      rat-infested – кишащий крысами

      22

      ill weeds are sure to thrive – худой траве всё впрок

      23

      so much the better – тем лучше

      24

      I’ll take both of you – я вам обоим всыплю

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