Читать книгу Маленький Лорд Фаунтлерой. Уровень 1 / Little Lord Fauntleroy онлайн

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did not knowhe was beingobserved[29]unhesitating readiness[30]

knickerbockers[31]

But Cedric relieved him by suddenly beginning the conversation himself.

“Do you know,” he said, “I don’t know what an earl is?”

“Don’t you?” said Mr. Havisham.

“No,” replied Ceddie. “And I think when a boy is going to be one, he need to know it. Don’t you?”

“Well-yes,” answered Mr. Havisham.

“Would you mind,” said Ceddie respectfully-“would you mind explaining it to me? What made him an earl?”

sovereign[32]deed[33]

“Oh!” said Cedric; “that’s like the President.”

“Is it?” said Mr. Havisham. “Is that why your presidents are elected?”

“Yes,” answered Ceddie cheerfully. “When a man is very good and knows a great deal, he is elected president. They have torch-light processions and bands, and everybody makes speeches. I used to think I might perhaps be a president, but I never thought of being an earl. I didn’t know about earls,”

“It is rather different from being a president,” said Mr. Havisham.

“Is it?” asked Cedric. “How? Are there no torch-light processions?”