Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter X
Ishouldn’tforgetaboutYOU,youknow,ifIdidn’tlivewithyou.Ishouldthinkaboutyouallthemore.”
“Uponmyword,”saidtheEarl,afterlookingathimamomentlonger,“Ibelieveyouwould!”
Thejealouspangthatcamewhentheboyspokesoofhismotherseemedevenstrongerthanithadbeenbefore;itwasstrongerbecauseofthisoldman’sincreasingaffectionfortheboy.
Butitwasnotlongbeforehehadotherpangs,somuchhardertofacethathealmostforgot,forthetime,hehadeverhatedhisson’swifeatall.Andinastrangeandstartlingwayithappened.Oneevening,justbeforetheEarl’sCourtcottageswerecompleted,therewasagranddinnerpartyatDorincourt.TherehadnotbeensuchapartyattheCastleforalongtime.Afewdaysbeforeittookplace,SirHarryLorridaileandLadyLorridaile,whowastheEarl’sonlysister,actuallycameforavisit—athingwhichcausedthegreatestexcitementinthevillageandsetMrs.Dibble’sshop-belltinklingmadlyagain,becauseitwaswellknownthatLadyLorridailehadonlybeentoDorincourtoncesincehermarriage,thirty-fiveyearsbefore.Shewasahandsomeoldladywithwhitecurlsanddimpled,peachycheeks,andshewasasgoodasgold,butshehadneverapprovedofherbrotheranymorethandidtherestoftheworld,andhavingastrongwillofherownandnotbeingatallafraidtospeakhermindfrankly,shehad,afterseverallivelyquarrelswithhislordship,seenverylittleofhimsinceheryoungdays.
Shehadheardagreatdealofhimthatwasnotpleasantthroughtheyearsinwhichtheyhadbeenseparated.
