Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VI
Doyouknow,I’vecountedituponmyfingersandinmymind,andit’stwenty-sevenpeopleyou’vebeenkindto.That’sagoodmany—twenty-seven!”
“AndIwasthepersonwhowaskindtothem—wasI?”saidtheEarl.
“Why,yes,youknow,”answeredFauntleroy.“Youmadethemallhappy.Doyouknow,”withsomedelicatehesitation,“thatpeoplearesometimesmistakenaboutearlswhentheydon’tknowthem.Mr.Hobbswas.Iamgoingtowritehim,andtellhimaboutit.”
“WhatwasMr.Hobbs’sopinionofearls?”askedhislordship.
“Well,yousee,thedifficultywas,”repliedhisyoungcompanion,“thathedidn’tknowany,andhe’donlyreadabouttheminbooks.Hethought—youmustn’tmindit—thattheyweregorytyrants;andhesaidhewouldn’thavethemhangingaroundhisstore.Butifhe’dknownYOU,I’msurehewouldhavefeltquitedifferent.Ishalltellhimaboutyou.”
“Whatshallyoutellhim?”
“Ishalltellhim,”saidFauntleroy,glowingwithenthusiasm,“thatyouarethekindestmanIeverheardof.Andyouarealwaysthinkingofotherpeople,andmakingthemhappyand—andIhopewhenIgrowup,Ishallbejustlikeyou.”
“Justlikeme!”repeatedhislordship,lookingatthelittlekindlingface.Andadullredcreptupunderhiswitheredskin,andhesuddenlyturnedhiseyesawayandlookedoutofthecarriagewindowatthegreatbeech-trees,withthesunshiningontheirglossy,red-brownleaves.
“JUSTlikeyou,”saidFauntleroy,addingmodestly,“ifIcan.PerhapsI’mnotgoodenough,butI’mgoingtotry.
