Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter X
TheyfoundFauntleroysittingonthesofawithMissVivianHerbert,—thegreatbeautyofthelastLondonseason;theyhadbeenlookingatsomepictures,andhewasthankinghiscompanionasthedooropened.
“I’meversomuchobligedtoyouforbeingsokindtome!”hewassaying;“Ineverwasatapartybefore,andI’veenjoyedmyselfsomuch!”
HehadenjoyedhimselfsomuchthatwhenthegentlemengatheredaboutMissHerbertagainandbegantotalktoher,ashelistenedandtriedtounderstandtheirlaughingspeeches,hiseyelidsbegantodroop.Theydroopeduntiltheycoveredhiseyestwoorthreetimes,andthenthesoundofMissHerbert’slow,prettylaughwouldbringhimback,andhewouldopenthemagainforabouttwoseconds.Hewasquitesurehewasnotgoingtosleep,buttherewasalarge,yellowsatincushionbehindhimandhisheadsankagainstit,andafterawhilehiseyelidsdroopedforthelasttime.Theydidnotevenquiteopenwhen,asitseemedalongtimeafter,someonekissedhimlightlyonthecheek.ItwasMissVivianHerbert,whowasgoingaway,andshespoketohimsoftly.
“Good-night,littleLordFauntleroy,”shesaid.“Sleepwell.”
Andinthemorninghedidnotknowthathehadtriedtoopenhiseyesandhadmurmuredsleepily,“Good-night—I’mso—glad—Isawyou—youareso—pretty——”
Heonlyhadaveryfaintrecollectionofhearingthegentlemenlaughagainandofwonderingwhytheydidit.
Nosoonerhadthelastguestlefttheroom,thanMr.