The Professor / Учитель. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Compare the figure in that frame with Mrs. Edward Crimsworth – which is the finer animal?”

I replied quietly: “Compare yourself and Mr. Edward Crimsworth, Mr. Hunsden.”

“Oh, Crimsworth is better filled up than I am, I know besides he has a straight nose, arched eyebrows, and all that; but these advantages – if they are advantages – he did not inherit from his mother, the patrician, but from his father, old Crimsworth, who, MY father says, was as veritable a – — shire blue-dyer as ever put indigo in a vat yet withal the handsomest man in the three Ridings[39 - in the three Ridings – Райдинги, три части, на которые исторически делился Йоркшир (северная Англия)].

It is you, William, who are the aristocrat of your family, and you are not as fine a fellow as your plebeian brother by long chalk[40 - by long chalk – (разг.) далеко не такой; совершенно отличный].”

There was something in Mr.

Hunsden’s point-blank mode of speech which rather pleased me than otherwise because it set me at my ease. I continued the conversation with a degree of interest.

“How do you happen to know that I am Mr. Crimsworth’s brother? I thought you and everybody else looked upon me only in the light of a poor clerk.”

“Well, and so we do; and what are you but a poor clerk? You do Crimsworth’s work, and he gives you wages – shabby wages they are, too.

”

I was silent. Hunsden’s language now bordered on the impertinent, still his manner did not offend me in the least – it only piqued my curiosity; I wanted him to go on, which he did in a little while.

“This world is an absurd one,” said he.

“Why so, Mr. Hunsden?”

“I wonder you should ask: you are yourself a strong proof of the absurdity I allude to.”

I was determined he should explain himself of his own accord[41 - of his own accord – (разг.

) по своей воле], without my pressing him so to do – so I resumed my silence.

“Is it your intention to become a tradesman?” he inquired presently.

“It was my serious intention three months ago.”

“Humph! the more fool you – you look like a tradesman! What a practical business-like face you have!”

“My face is as the Lord made it, Mr. Hunsden.”

“The Lord never made either your face or head for X – — .