The stout man came forward deliberately and put his foot on the [rest.]
“Yes,” he said.
Then when Dick [fell to work,] the stout man looked from Dick to the sign and from the sign to Dick.
“Where did you get that?” he asked.
“From a friend o’ mine,” said Dick,—“a little feller. He was the best little [feller] ye ever saw. He’s in England now. Gone to be one o’ those lords.”
“Lord—Lord—” asked Mr. Hobbs, with ponderous slowness, “Lord Fauntleroy—Goin’ to be Earl of Dorincourt!”
Dick almost dropped his brush.
“Why, [boss!”] he exclaimed, “d’ye know him [yerself?”]
“I’ve known him,” answered Mr. Hobbs, wiping his warm forehead, “ever since he was born. We were [lifetime acquaintances]—that’s what we were.”
It really made him feel quite agitated to speak of it. He pulled the splendid gold watch out of his pocket and opened it, and showed the inside of the case to Dick.