Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter II
“No,”repliedCeddie.“AndIthinkwhenaboyisgoingtobeone,heoughttoknow.Don’tyou?”
“Well—yes,”answeredMr.Havisham.
“Wouldyoumind,”saidCeddierespectfully—“wouldyoumind’splainingittome?”(Sometimeswhenheusedhislongwordshedidnotpronouncethemquitecorrectly.)“Whatmadehimanearl?”
“Akingorqueen,inthefirstplace,”saidMr.Havisham.“Generally,heismadeanearlbecausehehasdonesomeservicetohissovereign,orsomegreatdeed.”
“Oh!”saidCedric;“that’slikethePresident.”
“Isit?”saidMr.Havisham.“Isthatwhyyourpresidentsareelected?”
“Yes,”answeredCeddiecheerfully.“Whenamanisverygoodandknowsagreatdeal,heiselectedpresident.Theyhavetorch-lightprocessionsandbands,andeverybodymakesspeeches.IusedtothinkImightperhapsbeapresident,butIneverthoughtofbeinganearl.Ididn’tknowaboutearls,”hesaid,ratherhastily,lestMr.Havishammightfeelitimpoliteinhimnottohavewishedtobeone,—“ifI’dknownaboutthem,IdaresayIshouldhavethoughtIshouldliketobeone.”
“Itisratherdifferentfrombeingapresident,”saidMr.Havisham.
“Isit?”askedCedric.“How?Aretherenotorch-lightprocessions?”
Mr.Havishamcrossedhisownlegsandputthetipsofhisfingerscarefullytogether.Hethoughtperhapsthetimehadcometoexplainmattersrathermoreclearly.
“Anearlis—isaveryimportantperson,”hebegan.
“Soisapresident!”putinCeddie.
