Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter II
“Youdonotknowwhathehasbeentome!”shesaid.
Thelawyerclearedhisthroat.
“Iamobligedtotellyou,”hesaid,“thattheEarlofDorincourtisnot—isnotveryfriendlytowardyou.Heisanoldman,andhisprejudicesareverystrong.HehasalwaysespeciallydislikedAmericaandAmericans,andwasverymuchenragedbyhisson’smarriage.Iamsorrytobethebearerofsounpleasantacommunication,butheisveryfixedinhisdeterminationnottoseeyou.HisplanisthatLordFauntleroyshallbeeducatedunderhisownsupervision;thatheshalllivewithhim.TheEarlisattachedtoDorincourtCastle,andspendsagreatdealoftimethere.Heisavictimtoinflammatorygout,andisnotfondofLondon.LordFauntleroywill,therefore,belikelytolivechieflyatDorincourt.TheEarloffersyouasahomeCourtLodge,whichissituatedpleasantly,andisnotveryfarfromthecastle.Healsooffersyouasuitableincome.LordFauntleroywillbepermittedtovisityou;theonlystipulationis,thatyoushallnotvisithimorentertheparkgates.Youseeyouwillnotbereallyseparatedfromyourson,andIassureyou,madam,thetermsarenotsoharshas—astheymighthavebeen.TheadvantageofsuchsurroundingsandeducationasLordFauntleroywillhave,Iamsureyoumustsee,willbeverygreat.”
Hefeltalittleuneasylestsheshouldbegintocryormakeascene,asheknewsomewomenwouldhavedone.Itembarrassedandannoyedhimtoseewomencry.
Butshedidnot.Shewenttothewindowandstoodwithherfaceturnedawayforafewmoments,andhesawshewastryingtosteadyherself.