Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Hehadasortofprideinthenoblefamilywhoselegalaffairshehadconductedsolong,anditwouldhaveannoyedhimverymuchtohavefoundhimselfobligedtomanageawomanwhowouldseemtohimavulgar,money-lovingperson,withnorespectforherdeadhusband’scountryandthedignityofhisname.Itwasaveryoldnameandaverysplendidone,andMr.Havishamhadagreatrespectforithimself,thoughhewasonlyacold,keen,business-likeoldlawyer.

           WhenMaryhandedhimintothesmallparlor,helookedarounditcritically.Itwasplainlyfurnished,butithadahome-likelook;therewerenocheap,commonornaments,andnocheap,gaudypictures;thefewadornmentsonthewallswereingoodtasteandabouttheroomweremanyprettythingswhichawoman’shandmighthavemade.

           “Notatallbadsofar,”hehadsaidtohimself;“butperhapstheCaptain’stastepredominated.”ButwhenMrs.Errolcameintotheroom,hebegantothinksheherselfmighthavehadsomethingtodowithit.Ifhehadnotbeenquiteaself-containedandstiffoldgentleman,hewouldprobablyhavestartedwhenhesawher.Shelooked,inthesimpleblackdress,fittingcloselytoherslenderfigure,morelikeayounggirlthanthemotherofaboyofseven.Shehadapretty,sorrowful,youngface,andaverytender,innocentlookinherlargebrowneyes,—thesorrowfullookthathadneverquiteleftherfacesinceherhusbandhaddied.