Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Havishamfoundoutthatherstoryoftheboy’sbeingborninacertainpartofLondonwasfalse;andjustwhentheyallwereinthemidstofthecommotioncausedbythisdiscovery,therecametheletterfromtheyounglawyerinNewYork,andMr.Hobbs’slettersalso.

           Whataneveningitwaswhenthoselettersarrived,andwhenMr.HavishamandtheEarlsatandtalkedtheirplansoverinthelibrary!

           “Aftermyfirstthreemeetingswithher,”saidMr.Havisham,“Ibegantosuspectherstrongly.Itappearedtomethatthechildwasolderthanshesaidhewas,andshemadeaslipinspeakingofthedateofhisbirthandthentriedtopatchthematterup.Thestorytheselettersbringfitsinwithseveralofmysuspicions.OurbestplanwillbetocableatonceforthesetwoTiptons,—saynothingaboutthemtoher,—andsuddenlyconfrontherwiththemwhensheisnotexpectingit.Sheisonlyaveryclumsyplotter,afterall.Myopinionisthatshewillbefrightenedoutofherwits,andwillbetrayherselfonthespot.”

           Andthatwaswhatactuallyhappened.Shewastoldnothing,andMr.Havishamkeptherfromsuspectinganythingbycontinuingtohaveinterviewswithher,inwhichheassuredherhewasinvestigatingherstatements;andshereallybegantofeelsosecurethatherspiritsroseimmenselyandshebegantobeasinsolentasmighthavebeenexpected.

           Butonefinemorning,asshesatinhersitting-roomattheinncalled“TheDorincourtArms,”makingsomeveryfineplansforherself,Mr.