Портрет Дориана Грея
Chapter 2
Hewas,too.CametoMadridoncewhenIwasthere. Egad,Iwasashamedofhim. TheQueenusedtoaskmeabouttheEnglishnoblewhowasalwaysquarrellingwiththecabmenabouttheirfares. Theymadequiteastoryofit.Ididn’tdaretoshowmyfaceatCourtforamonth. Ihopehetreatedhisgrandsonbetterthanhedidthejarvies."
"Idon’tknow,"answeredLordHenry."Ifancythattheboywillbewelloff.Heisnotofageyet. HehasSelby,Iknow.Hetoldmeso.And...hismotherwasverybeautiful?"
"MargaretDevereuxwasoneoftheloveliestcreaturesIeversaw,Harry. Whatonearthinducedhertobehaveasshedid,Inevercouldunderstand.Shecouldhavemarriedanybodyshechose. Carlingtonwasmadafterher.Shewasromantic,though. Allthewomenofthatfamilywere.Themenwereapoorlot,but,egad!thewomenwerewonderful. Carlingtonwentonhiskneestoher.Toldmesohimself. Shelaughedathim,andtherewasn’tagirlinLondonatthetimewhowasn’tafterhim. Andbytheway,Harry,talkingaboutsillymarriages,whatisthishumbugyourfathertellsmeaboutDartmoorwantingtomarryanAmerican? Ain’tEnglishgirlsgoodenoughforhim?"
"ItisratherfashionabletomarryAmericansjustnow,UncleGeorge."
"I’llbackEnglishwomenagainsttheworld,Harry,"saidLordFermor,strikingthetablewithhisfist.
"ThebettingisontheAmericans."
"Theydon’tlast,Iamtold,"mutteredhisuncle.
"Alongengagementexhauststhem,buttheyarecapitalatasteeplechase. Theytakethingsflying.Idon’tthinkDartmoorhasachance."