Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VI
Cedricfeltquitesurethatoneoughttobemorethanusuallypolitetoaminister.
Mr.Mordauntheldthesmallhandinhisamomentashelookeddownatthechild’sface,smilinginvoluntarily.Helikedthelittlefellowfromthatinstant—asinfactpeoplealwaysdidlikehim.Anditwasnottheboy’sbeautyandgracewhichmostappealedtohim;itwasthesimple,naturalkindlinessinthelittleladwhichmadeanywordsheuttered,howeverquaintandunexpected,soundpleasantandsincere.AstherectorlookedatCedric,heforgottothinkoftheEarlatall.Nothingintheworldissostrongasakindheart,andsomehowthiskindlittleheart,thoughitwasonlytheheartofachild,seemedtoclearalltheatmosphereofthebiggloomyroomandmakeitbrighter.
“Iamdelightedtomakeyouracquaintance,LordFauntleroy,”saidtherector.“Youmadealongjourneytocometous.Agreatmanypeoplewillbegladtoknowyoumadeitsafely.”
“ItWASalongway,”answeredFauntleroy,“butDearest,mymother,waswithmeandIwasn’tlonely.Ofcourseyouareneverlonelyifyourmotheriswithyou;andtheshipwasbeautiful.”
“Takeachair,Mordaunt,”saidtheEarl.Mr.Mordauntsatdown.HeglancedfromFauntleroytotheEarl.
“Yourlordshipisgreatlytobecongratulated,”hesaidwarmly.
ButtheEarlplainlyhadnointentionofshowinghisfeelingsonthesubject.
“Heislikehisfather,”hesaidrathergruffly.“Letushopehe’llconducthimselfmorecreditably.”Andthenheadded:“Well,whatisitthismorning,Mordaunt?Whoisintroublenow?”
ThiswasnotasbadasMr.
