Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VII
Andshecouldtell,too,whatalltheservantshadsaidwhentheyhadcaughtglimpsesofthechildonthenightofhisarrival;andhoweveryfemalebelowstairshadsaiditwasashame,soitwas,topartthepoorprettydearfromhismother;andhadalldeclaredtheirheartscameintotheirmouthswhenhewentaloneintothelibrarytoseehisgrandfather,for“therewasnoknowinghowhe’dbetreated,andhislordship’stemperwasenoughtoflusterthemwitholdheadsontheirshoulders,letaloneachild.”
“Butifyou’llbelieveme,Mrs.Jennifer,mum,”Mrs.Dibblehadsaid,“fearthatchilddoesnotknow—soMr.Thomashisselfsays;an’setan’smilehedid,an’talkedtohislordshipasifthey’dbeenfriendseversincehisfirsthour.An’theEarlsotookaback,Mr.Thomassays,thathecouldn’tdonothingbutlistenandstarefromunderhiseyebrows.An’it’sMr.Thomas’sopinion,Mrs.Bates,mum,thatbadasheis,hewaspleasedinhissecretsoul,an’proud,too;forahandsomerlittlefellow,orwithbettermanners,thoughsoold-fashioned,Mr.Thomassayshe’dneverwishtosee.”
AndthentherehadcomethestoryofHiggins.TheReverendMr.Mordaunthadtolditathisowndinnertable,andtheservantswhohadheardithadtolditinthekitchen,andfromthereithadspreadlikewildfire.
Andonmarket-day,whenHigginshadappearedintown,hehadbeenquestionedoneveryside,andNewickhadbeenquestionedtoo,andinresponsehadshowntotwoorthreepeoplethenotesigned“Fauntleroy.
