Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter I
Sometimeshealmosthatedthehandsomeyoungmanbecauseheseemedtohavethegoodthingswhichshouldhavegonewiththestatelytitleandthemagnificentestates;andyet,inthedepthsofhisproud,stubbornoldheart,hecouldnothelpcaringverymuchforhisyoungestson.ItwasinoneofhisfitsofpetulancethathesenthimofftotravelinAmerica;hethoughthewouldsendhimawayforawhile,sothatheshouldnotbemadeangrybyconstantlycontrastinghimwithhisbrothers,whowereatthattimegivinghimagreatdealoftroublebytheirwildways.
But,afteraboutsixmonths,hebegantofeellonely,andlongedinsecrettoseehissonagain,sohewrotetoCaptainCedricandorderedhimhome.TheletterhewrotecrossedonitswayalettertheCaptainhadjustwrittentohisfather,tellingofhislovefortheprettyAmericangirl,andofhisintendedmarriage;andwhentheEarlreceivedthatletterhewasfuriouslyangry.Badashistemperwas,hehadnevergivenwaytoitinhislifeashegavewaytoitwhenhereadtheCaptain’sletter.Hisvalet,whowasintheroomwhenitcame,thoughthislordshipwouldhaveafitofapoplexy,hewassowildwithanger.Foranhourheragedlikeatiger,andthenhesatdownandwrotetohisson,andorderedhimnevertocomenearhisoldhome,nortowritetohisfatherorbrothersagain.Hetoldhimhemightliveashepleased,anddiewherehepleased,thatheshouldbecutofffromhisfamilyforever,andthatheneedneverexpecthelpfromhisfatheraslongashelived.