Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter II
Thetruthwas,hewaswonderingwhattheEarlofDorincourtwouldsaywhenhewastoldwhatwasthefirstwishofhisgrandsonthathadbeengranted.Hewonderedwhatthecross,worldly,selfisholdnoblemanwouldthinkofit.
“Idonotknowthatyouhaverealized,”hesaid,“thattheEarlofDorincourtisanexceedinglyrichman.Hecanaffordtogratifyanycaprice.IthinkitwouldpleasehimtoknowthatLordFauntleroyhadbeenindulgedinanyfancy.Ifyouwillcallhimbackandallowme,Ishallgivehimfivepoundsforthesepeople.”
“Thatwouldbetwenty-fivedollars!”exclaimedMrs.Errol.“Itwillseemlikewealthtothem.Icanscarcelybelievethatitistrue.”
“Itisquitetrue,”saidMr.Havisham,withhisdrysmile.“Agreatchangehastakenplaceinyourson’slife,agreatdealofpowerwilllieinhishands.”
“Oh!”criedhismother.“Andheissuchalittleboy—averylittleboy.HowcanIteachhimtouseitwell?Itmakesmehalfafraid.MyprettylittleCeddie!”
Thelawyerslightlyclearedhisthroat.Ittouchedhisworldly,hardoldhearttoseethetender,timidlookinherbrowneyes.
“Ithink,madam,”hesaid,“thatifImayjudgefrommyinterviewwithLordFauntleroythismorning,thenextEarlofDorincourtwillthinkforothersaswellasforhisnobleself.Heisonlyachildyet,butIthinkhemaybetrusted.”
ThenhismotherwentforCedricandbroughthimbackintotheparlor.Mr.Havishamheardhimtalkingbeforeheenteredtheroom.
“It’sinfam-natoryrheumatism,”hewassaying,“andthat’sakindofrheumatismthat’sdreadful.
