Маленькие женщины / Little Women. Уровень 3

”

“Thank you, ma'am,” said a gruff voice behind her, and there, to her great dismay, stood old Mr. Laurence.

Poor Jo blushed till she couldn't blush any redder. A second look showed her that the living eyes, under the bushy eyebrows, were kinder even than the painted ones. The old gentleman said, after the dreadful pause, “So you're not afraid of me, hey?”

“Not much, sir.”

“And you don't think me as handsome as your grandfather?”

“Not quite, sir.”

“And I've got a tremendous will, have I?”

“I only said I thought so.

“But you like me in spite of it?”

“Yes, I do, sir.”

“You've got your grandfather's spirit, if you haven't his face. He was a fine man, my dear, but what is better, he was a brave and an honest one, and I was proud to be his friend.”

“Thank you, sir,” And Jo was quite comfortable after that.

“What have you been doing to this boy of mine, hey?” was the next question, sharply put.

“Only trying to be neighborly, sir.

“You think he needs cheering up a bit, do you?”

“Yes, sir, he seems a little lonely, and young folks would do him good perhaps. We are only girls, but we should be glad to help if we could, for we don't forget the splendid Christmas present you sent us,” said Jo eagerly.

“Tut, tut, tut! That was the boy's affair. How is the poor woman?”

“Doing nicely, sir.”

“I shall come and see your mother some fine day. There's the tea bell.

“If you'd like to have me, sir.”

“Shouldn't ask you, if I didn't.” And Mr. Laurence offered her his arm with old-fashioned courtesy.

“What would Meg say to this?” thought Jo, as she was marched away, while her eyes danced with fun as she imagined herself telling the story at home.

“Hey! Why, what the dickens has come to the fellow[14 - what the dickens has come to the fellow – какой черт в него вселился]?” said the old gentleman, as Laurie came running downstairs and stopped at the sight of Jo arm in arm with his grandfather.

“I didn't know you'd come, sir,” he began, as Jo gave him a triumphant little glance.

“That's evident, by the way you ran downstairs. Come to your tea, sir, and behave like a gentleman.”

“She's right, the lad is lonely. I'll see what these little girls can do for him,” thought Mr. Laurence, as he looked and listened.