Ravenswood, to avoid hearing the dispute betwixt the father and the
overindulged boy, thought it most polite to turn his face once more
towards the pictures, and pay no attention to what they said.
"Why do you not speak to the Master, you little fool?" said the Lord
Keeper.
"I am afraid," said Henry, in a very low tone of voice.
"Afraid, you goose!" said his father, giving him a slight shake by the
collar. "What makes you afraid?"
"What makes him to like the picture of Sir Malise Ravenswood then?" said
the boy, whispering.
"What picture, you natural?" said his father. "I used to think you only
a scapegrace, but I believe you will turn out a born idiot."
"I tell you, it is the picture of old Malise of Ravenswood, and he is as
like it as if he had loupen out of the canvas; and it is up in the old
baron's hall that the maids launder the clothes in; and it has armour,
and not a coat like the gentleman; and he has not a beard and whiskers
like the picture; and it has another kind of thing about the throat, and
no band-strings as he has; and----"
"And why should not the gentleman be like his ancestor, you silly boy?"
said the Lord Keeper.
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