Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter X
Graduallyshehadbeguntosee,ashadothers,thatithadbeenherboy’sgoodfortunetopleasetheEarlverymuch,andthathewouldscarcelybelikelytobedeniedanythingforwhichheexpressedadesire.
“TheEarlwouldgivehimanything,”shesaidtoMr.Mordaunt.“Hewouldindulgehiseverywhim.Whyshouldnotthatindulgencebeusedforthegoodofothers?Itisformetoseethatthisshallcometopass.”
Sheknewshecouldtrustthekind,childishheart;soshetoldthelittlefellowthestoryofEarl’sCourt,feelingsurethathewouldspeakofittohisgrandfather,andhopingthatsomegoodresultswouldfollow.
Andstrangeasitappearedtoeveryone,goodresultsdidfollow.
ThefactwasthatthestrongestpowertoinfluencetheEarlwashisgrandson’sperfectconfidenceinhim—thefactthatCedricalwaysbelievedthathisgrandfatherwasgoingtodowhatwasrightandgenerous.Hecouldnotquitemakeuphismindtolethimdiscoverthathehadnoinclinationtobegenerousatall,andthathewantedhisownwayonalloccasions,whetheritwasrightorwrong.Itwassuchanoveltytoberegardedwithadmirationasabenefactoroftheentirehumanrace,andthesoulofnobility,thathedidnotenjoytheideaoflookingintotheaffectionatebrowneyes,andsaying:“Iamaviolent,selfisholdrascal;Ineverdidagenerousthinginmylife,andIdon’tcareaboutEarl’sCourtorthepoorpeople”—orsomethingwhichwouldamounttothesamething.