Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           If,aweekbefore,anyonehadtoldtheEarlofDorincourtthatonthatparticularmorninghewouldbeforgettinghisgoutandhisbadtemperinachild’sgame,playedwithblackandwhitewoodenpegs,onagaylypaintedboard,withacurly-headedsmallboyforacompanion,hewouldwithoutdoubthavemadehimselfveryunpleasant;andyethecertainlyhadforgottenhimselfwhenthedooropenedandThomasannouncedavisitor.

           Thevisitorinquestion,whowasanelderlygentlemaninblack,andnolessapersonthantheclergymanoftheparish,wassostartledbytheamazingscenewhichmethiseye,thathealmostfellbackapace,andransomeriskofcollidingwithThomas.

           Therewas,infact,nopartofhisdutythattheReverendMr.MordauntfoundsodecidedlyunpleasantasthatpartwhichcompelledhimtocalluponhisnoblepatronattheCastle.Hisnoblepatron,indeed,usuallymadethesevisitsasdisagreeableasitlayinhislordlypowertomakethem.Heabhorredchurchesandcharities,andflewintoviolentrageswhenanyofhistenantrytookthelibertyofbeingpoorandillandneedingassistance.Whenhisgoutwasatitsworst,hedidnothesitatetoannouncethathewouldnotbeboredandirritatedbybeingtoldstoriesoftheirmiserablemisfortunes;whenhisgouttroubledhimlessandhewasinasomewhatmorehumaneframeofmind,hewouldperhapsgivetherectorsomemoney,afterhavingbulliedhiminthemostpainfulmanner,andberatedthewholeparishforitsshiftlessnessandimbecility.