Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           HehadbeenconnectedprofessionallywiththefamilyoftheEarlofDorincourtfornearlyfortyyears,andheknewallaboutitsgrandestatesanditsgreatwealthandimportance;and,inacold,business-likeway,hefeltaninterestinthislittleboy,who,inthefuture,wastobethemasterandownerofthemall,—thefutureEarlofDorincourt.HehadknownallabouttheoldEarl’sdisappointmentinhiseldersonsandallabouthisfiercerageatCaptainCedric’sAmericanmarriage,andheknewhowhestillhatedthegentlelittlewidowandwouldnotspeakofherexceptwithbitterandcruelwords.HeinsistedthatshewasonlyacommonAmericangirl,whohadentrappedhissonintomarryingherbecausesheknewhewasanearl’sson.Theoldlawyerhimselfhadmorethanhalfbelievedthiswasalltrue.Hehadseenagreatmanyselfish,mercenarypeopleinhislife,andhehadnotagoodopinionofAmericans.Whenhehadbeendrivenintothecheapstreet,andhiscoupehadstoppedbeforethecheap,smallhouse,hehadfeltactuallyshocked.ItseemedreallyquitedreadfultothinkthatthefutureownerofDorincourtCastleandWyndhamTowersandChorlworth,andalltheotherstatelysplendors,shouldhavebeenbornandbroughtupinaninsignificanthouseinastreetwithasortofgreen-groceryatthecorner.Hewonderedwhatkindofachildhewouldbe,andwhatkindofamotherhehad.Herathershrankfromseeingthemboth.