Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter II
“PerhapsIshallnotseeyouagainforalongtime.Idon’tliketothinkofthat,Mr.Hobbs.”
“Thebestoffriendsmustpart,”saidMr.Hobbs.
“Well,”saidCedric,“wehavebeenfriendsforagreatmanyyears,haven’twe?”
“Eversinceyouwasborn,”Mr.Hobbsanswered.“Youwasaboutsixweeksoldwhenyouwasfirstwalkedoutonthisstreet.”
“Ah,”remarkedCedric,withasigh,“IneverthoughtIshouldhavetobeanearlthen!”
“Youthink,”saidMr.Hobbs,“there’snogettingoutofit?”
“I’mafraidnot,”answeredCedric.“Mymammasaysthatmypapawouldwishmetodoit.ButifIhavetobeanearl,there’sonethingIcando:Icantrytobeagoodone.I’mnotgoingtobeatyrant.AndifthereisevertobeanotherwarwithAmerica,Ishalltrytostopit.”
HisconversationwithMr.Hobbswasalongandseriousone.Oncehavinggotoverthefirstshock,Mr.Hobbswasnotsorancorousasmighthavebeenexpected;heendeavoredtoresignhimselftothesituation,andbeforetheinterviewwasatanendhehadaskedagreatmanyquestions.AsCedriccouldanswerbutfewofthem,heendeavoredtoanswerthemhimself,and,beingfairlylaunchedonthesubjectofearlsandmarquisesandlordlyestates,explainedmanythingsinawaywhichwouldprobablyhaveastonishedMr.Havisham,couldthatgentlemanhaveheardit.
ButthenthereweremanythingswhichastonishedMr.Havisham.HehadspentallhislifeinEngland,andwasnotaccustomedtoAmericanpeopleandAmericanhabits.