Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter XV
WhatagranddayitwaswhenlittleLordFauntleroy’sbirthdayarrived,andhowhisyounglordshipenjoyedit!Howbeautifultheparklooked,filledwiththethrongingpeopledressedintheirgayestandbest,andwiththeflagsflyingfromthetentsandthetopoftheCastle!Nobodyhadstaidawaywhocouldpossiblycome,becauseeverybodywasreallygladthatlittleLordFauntleroywastobelittleLordFauntleroystill,andsomedaywastobethemasterofeverything.Everyonewantedtohavealookathim,andathispretty,kindmother,whohadmadesomanyfriends.AndpositivelyeveryonelikedtheEarlratherbetter,andfeltmoreamiablytowardhimbecausethelittleboylovedandtrustedhimso,andbecause,also,hehadnowmadefriendswithandbehavedrespectfullytohisheir’smother.Itwassaidthathewasevenbeginningtobefondofher,too,andthatbetweenhisyounglordshipandhisyounglordship’smother,theEarlmightbechangedintimeintoquiteawell-behavedoldnobleman,andeverybodymightbehappierandbetteroff.
Whatscoresandscoresofpeopletherewereunderthetrees,andinthetents,andonthelawns!Farmersandfarmers’wivesintheirSundaysuitsandbonnetsandshawls;girlsandtheirsweethearts;childrenfrolickingandchasingabout;andolddamesinredcloaksgossipingtogether.AttheCastle,therewereladiesandgentlemenwhohadcometoseethefun,andtocongratulatetheEarl,andtomeetMrs.Errol.LadyLorredaileandSirHarrywerethere,andSirThomasAssheandhisdaughters,andMr.