Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Whatcolorwasit?Howbigwasit?Whatwasitsname?Whatdiditliketoeatbest?Howoldwasit?Howearlyinthemorningmighthegetupandseeit?

           “Dearestwillbesoglad!”hekeptsaying.“Shewillbesomuchobligedtoyouforbeingsokindtome!SheknowsIalwayslikedponiessomuch,butweneverthoughtIshouldhaveone.TherewasalittleboyonFifthAvenuewhohadone,andheusedtorideouteverymorningandweusedtotakeawalkpasthishousetoseehim.”

           HeleanedbackagainstthecushionsandregardedtheEarlwithraptinterestforafewminutesandinentiresilence.

           “Ithinkyoumustbethebestpersonintheworld,”heburstforthatlast.“Youarealwaysdoinggood,aren’tyou?—andthinkingaboutotherpeople.Dearestsaysthatisthebestkindofgoodness;nottothinkaboutyourself,buttothinkaboutotherpeople.Thatisjustthewayyouare,isn’tit?”

           Hislordshipwassodumfoundedtofindhimselfpresentedinsuchagreeablecolors,thathedidnotknowexactlywhattosay.Hefeltthatheneededtimeforreflection.Toseeeachofhisugly,selfishmotiveschangedintoagoodandgenerousonebythesimplicityofachildwasasingularexperience.

           Fauntleroywenton,stillregardinghimwithadmiringeyes—thosegreat,clear,innocenteyes!

           “Youmakesomanypeoplehappy,”hesaid.“There’sMichaelandBridgetandtheirtenchildren,andtheapple-woman,andDick,andMr.Hobbs,andMr.HigginsandMrs.Higginsandtheirchildren,andMr.Mordaunt,—becauseofcoursehewasglad,—andDearestandme,abouttheponyandalltheotherthings.