Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Cedricwasusedtoseeingitthere;theonlytimeshehadeverseenitfadeouthadbeenwhenhewasplayingwithherortalkingtoher,andhadsaidsomeold-fashionedthing,orusedsomelongwordhehadpickedupoutofthenewspapersorinhisconversationswithMr.Hobbs.Hewasfondofusinglongwords,andhewasalwayspleasedwhentheymadeherlaugh,thoughhecouldnotunderstandwhytheywerelaughable;theywerequiteseriousmatterswithhim.Thelawyer’sexperiencetaughthimtoreadpeople’scharactersveryshrewdly,andassoonashesawCedric’smotherheknewthattheoldEarlhadmadeagreatmistakeinthinkingheravulgar,mercenarywoman.Mr.Havishamhadneverbeenmarried,hehadneverevenbeeninlove,buthedivinedthatthisprettyyoungcreaturewiththesweetvoiceandsadeyeshadmarriedCaptainErrolonlybecauseshelovedhimwithallheraffectionateheart,andthatshehadneveroncethoughtitanadvantagethathewasanearl’sson.Andhesawheshouldhavenotroublewithher,andhebegantofeelthatperhapslittleLordFauntleroymightnotbesuchatrialtohisnoblefamily,afterall.TheCaptainhadbeenahandsomefellow,andtheyoungmotherwasverypretty,andperhapstheboymightbewellenoughtolookat.

           WhenhefirsttoldMrs.Errolwhathehadcomefor,sheturnedverypale.

           “Oh!”shesaid;“willhehavetobetakenawayfromme?Weloveeachothersomuch!Heissuchahappinesstome!HeisallIhave.Ihavetriedtobeagoodmothertohim.”Andhersweetyoungvoicetrembled,andthetearsrushedintohereyes.