Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter IX
Sometimeshewouldtellhisyoungcompaniontosettheponyoffatagallop,andwhenthelittlefellowdashedoff,sittingsostraightandfearless,hewouldwatchhimwithagleamofprideandpleasureinhiseyes;andwhen,aftersuchadash,Fauntleroycamebackwavinghiscapwithalaughingshout,healwaysfeltthatheandhisgrandfatherwereverygoodfriendsindeed.
OnethingthattheEarldiscoveredwasthathisson’swifedidnotleadanidlelife.Itwasnotlongbeforehelearnedthatthepoorpeopleknewherverywellindeed.Whentherewassicknessorsorroworpovertyinanyhouse,thelittlebroughamoftenstoodbeforethedoor.
“Doyouknow,”saidFauntleroyonce,“theyallsay,’Godblessyou!’whentheyseeher,andthechildrenareglad.Therearesomewhogotoherhousetobetaughttosew.Shesaysshefeelssorichnowthatshewantstohelpthepoorones.”
IthadnotdispleasedtheEarltofindthatthemotherofhisheirhadabeautifulyoungfaceandlookedasmuchlikealadyasifshehadbeenaduchess;andinonewayitdidnotdispleasehimtoknowthatshewaspopularandbelovedbythepoor.Andyethewasoftenconsciousofahard,jealouspangwhenhesawhowshefilledherchild’sheartandhowtheboyclungtoherashisbestbeloved.Theoldmanwouldhavedesiredtostandfirsthimselfandhavenorival.
Thatsamemorninghedrewuphishorseonanelevatedpointofthemooroverwhichtheyrode,andmadeagesturewithhiswhip,overthebroad,beautifullandscapespreadbeforethem.
“Doyouknowthatallthatlandbelongstome?”hesaidtoFauntleroy.