Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter XII
IwanttoseenothingofeitheryouorthechildsolongasIlive.Theplacewillunfortunatelyhaveenoughofyouaftermydeath.YouareexactlythekindofpersonIshouldhaveexpectedmysonBevistochoose.”
Andthenheturnedhisbackuponherandstalkedoutoftheroomashehadstalkedintoit.
Notmanydaysafterthat,avisitorwasannouncedtoMrs.Errol,whowaswritinginherlittlemorningroom.Themaid,whobroughtthemessage,lookedratherexcited;hereyeswerequiteroundwithamazement,infact,andbeingyoungandinexperienced,sheregardedhermistresswithnervoussympathy.
“It’stheEarlhisself,ma’am!”shesaidintremulousawe.
WhenMrs.Errolenteredthedrawing-room,averytall,majestic-lookingoldmanwasstandingonthetiger-skinrug.Hehadahandsome,grimoldface,withanaquilineprofile,alongwhitemustache,andanobstinatelook.
“Mrs.Errol,Ibelieve?”hesaid.
“Mrs.Errol,”sheanswered.
“IamtheEarlofDorincourt,”hesaid.
Hepausedamoment,almostunconsciously,tolookintoherupliftedeyes.Theyweresolikethebig,affectionate,childisheyeshehadseenupliftedtohisownsoofteneverydayduringthelastfewmonths,thattheygavehimaquitecurioussensation.
“Theboyisverylikeyou,”hesaidabruptly.
“Ithasbeenoftensaidso,mylord,”shereplied,“butIhavebeengladtothinkhimlikehisfatheralso.”
AsLadyLorridailehadtoldhim,hervoicewasverysweet,andhermannerwasverysimpleanddignified.Shedidnotseemintheleasttroubledbyhissuddencoming.
