Stranica 202 [202]
182 LITILE LORD FAUNTLEROY.
everything, and quite unused to meeting people like ourselves
on any terms of equality. She does not know what to do. Her
visit to the Castle quite cowed her. She was infuriated, but she
was cowed. The Earl would not receive her, but I advised him
to go with me to the Dorincourt Arms, where she is staying.
When she saw him enter the room, she turned white, though she
flew into a rage at once, and threatened and demanded in one
breath.” |
The fact was that the Earl had stalked into the room and
stood, looking like a venerable aristocratic giant, staring at the
woman from under his beetling brows, and not condescending
a word. He simply stared at her, taking her in from head to
foot as if she were some repulsive curiosity. He let her talk and
demand until she was tired, without himself uttering a word, and
then he said: |
‘“You say you are my eldest sons wife. If that is true, and if
the proof you offer is too much for us, the law is on your side. In
that case, your boy is Lord Fauntleroy. The matter will be sifted to
the bottom, you may rest assured. If your claims are proved, you
will be provided for. I want to see nothing of either you or the
child so long as I live. [he place will unfortunately have enough
of you after my death. You are exactly the kind of person I should
have expected my son Bevis to choose.”
And then he turned his back upon her and stalked out of the
room as he had stalked into it.
Not many days after that, a visitor was announced to Mrs.
Errol, who was writing in her little morning room. The maid, who
brought the message, looked rather excited; her eyes were quite
round with amazement, in fact, and being young and inexperienced,
she regarded her mistress with nervous sympathy.
“Tt ’s the Earl hisself, ma’am!” she said in tremulous awe.