Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VI
TheEarllookedatit,andthecornersofhismouthtwitchedalittle.
“Yes,”heanswered;“Higginswillfinditentirelysatisfactory.”AndhehandedittoMr.Mordaunt.
WhatMr.Mordauntfoundwrittenwasthis:
“Dearmr.Newikifyoupleasmr.higinsisnottobeinturfearedwithforthepresentandoblige.Yoursrispecferly,
“FAUNTLEROY.”
“Mr.Hobbsalwayssignedhislettersthatway,”saidFauntleroy;“andIthoughtI’dbettersay’please.’Isthatexactlytherightwaytospell’interfered’?”
“It’snotexactlythewayitisspelledinthedictionary,”answeredtheEarl.
“Iwasafraidofthat,”saidFauntleroy.“Ioughttohaveasked.Yousee,that’sthewaywithwordsofmorethanonesyllable;youhavetolookinthedictionary.It’salwayssafest.I’llwriteitoveragain.”
Andwriteitoveragainhedid,makingquiteanimposingcopy,andtakingprecautionsinthematterofspellingbyconsultingtheEarlhimself.
“Spellingisacuriousthing,”hesaid.“It’ssooftendifferentfromwhatyouexpectittobe.Iusedtothink’please’wasspelledp-l-e-e-s,butitisn’t,youknow;andyou’dthink’dear’wasspelledd-e-r-e,ifyoudidn’tinquire.Sometimesitalmostdiscouragesyou.”
WhenMr.Mordauntwentaway,hetooktheletterwithhim,andhetooksomethingelsewithhimalso—namely,apleasanterfeelingandamorehopefulonethanhehadevercarriedhomewithhimdownthatavenueonanypreviousvisithehadmadeatDorincourtCastle.
Whenhewasgone,Fauntleroy,whohadaccompaniedhimtothedoor,wentbacktohisgrandfather.
