"Rather a handsome boy, I think, my lord, as boys go," he said, "though
I am scarcely a judge, perhaps. But you will find him somewhat different
from most English children, I dare say."

"I haven't a doubt of that," snarled the Earl, a twinge of gout seizing
him. "A lot of impudent little beggars, those American children; I've
heard that often enough."

"It is not exactly impudence in his case," said Mr. Havisham. "I can
scarcely describe what the difference is. He has lived more with older
people than with children, and the difference seems to be a mixture of
maturity and childishness."

"American impudence!" protested the Earl. "I've heard of it before. They
call it precocity and freedom. Beastly, impudent bad manners; that's
what it is!"

Mr. Havisham drank some more port. He seldom argued with his lordly
patron,--never when his lordly patron's noble leg was inflamed by gout.
At such times it was always better to leave him alone. So there was a
silence of a few moments. It was Mr. Havisham who broke it.

"I have a message to deliver from Mrs. Errol," he remarked.

"I don't want any of her messages!" growled his lordship; "the less I
hear of her the better."

"This is a rather important one," explained the lawyer. "She prefers not
to accept the income you proposed to settle on her."