Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VII
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Andsothefarmers’wiveshadfoundplentytotalkofovertheirteaandtheirshopping,andtheyhaddonethesubjectfulljusticeandmadethemostofit.AndonSundaytheyhadeitherwalkedtochurchorhadbeendrivenintheirgigsbytheirhusbands,whowereperhapsatriflecuriousthemselvesaboutthenewlittlelordwhowastobeintimetheownerofthesoil.
ItwasbynomeanstheEarl’shabittoattendchurch,buthechosetoappearonthisfirstSunday—itwashiswhimtopresenthimselfinthehugefamilypew,withFauntleroyathisside.
Thereweremanyloiterersinthechurchyard,andmanylingerersinthelanethatmorning.Thereweregroupsatthegatesandintheporch,andtherehadbeenmuchdiscussionastowhethermylordwouldreallyappearornot.Whenthisdiscussionwasatitsheight,onegoodwomansuddenlyutteredanexclamation.
“Eh,”shesaid,“thatmustbethemother,prettyyoungthing.”Allwhoheardturnedandlookedattheslenderfigureinblackcomingupthepath.Theveilwasthrownbackfromherfaceandtheycouldseehowfairandsweetitwas,andhowthebrighthaircurledassoftlyasachild’sunderthelittlewidow’scap.
Shewasnotthinkingofthepeopleabout;shewasthinkingofCedric,andofhisvisitstoher,andhisjoyoverhisnewpony,onwhichhehadactuallyriddentoherdoorthedaybefore,sittingverystraightandlookingveryproudandhappy.Butsoonshecouldnothelpbeingattractedbythefactthatshewasbeinglookedatandthatherarrivalhadcreatedsomesortofsensation.
