Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Thomas,hisself,hedid,notmorethantwodayssince,andifitweren’tforotherthingsbeingagreeableandthesocietybelowstairsmostgenteel,warningwouldhavebeengavewithina’hour!”

           Andtherectorhadheardallthis,forsomehowtheEarlwasafavoriteblacksheepinthecottagesandfarm-houses,andhisbadbehaviorgavemanyagoodwomansomethingtotalkaboutwhenshehadcompanytotea.

           Andthesecondreasonwasevenworse,becauseitwasanewoneandhadbeentalkedaboutwiththemostexcitedinterest.

           Whodidnotknowoftheoldnobleman’sfurywhenhishandsomesontheCaptainhadmarriedtheAmericanlady?WhodidnotknowhowcruellyhehadtreatedtheCaptain,andhowthebig,gay,sweet-smilingyoungman,whowastheonlymemberofthegrandfamilyanyoneliked,haddiedinaforeignland,poorandunforgiven?Whodidnotknowhowfiercelyhislordshiphadhatedthepooryoungcreaturewhohadbeenthisson’swife,andhowhehadhatedthethoughtofherchildandnevermeanttoseetheboy—untilhistwosonsdiedandlefthimwithoutanheir?Andthen,whodidnotknowthathehadlookedforwardwithoutanyaffectionorpleasuretohisgrandson’scoming,andthathehadmadeuphismindthatheshouldfindtheboyavulgar,awkward,pertAmericanlad,morelikelytodisgracehisnoblenamethantohonorit?

           Theproud,angryoldmanthoughthehadkeptallhisthoughtssecret.