Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VII
Shefirstnoticeditbecauseanoldwomaninaredcloakmadeabobbingcourtesytoher,andthenanotherdidthesamethingandsaid,“Godblessyou,mylady!”andonemanafteranothertookoffhishatasshepassed.Foramomentshedidnotunderstand,andthensherealizedthatitwasbecauseshewaslittleLordFauntleroy’smotherthattheydidso,andsheflushedrathershylyandsmiledandbowedtoo,andsaid,“Thankyou,”inagentlevoicetotheoldwomanwhohadblessedher.Toapersonwhohadalwayslivedinabustling,crowdedAmericancitythissimpledeferencewasverynovel,andatfirstjustalittleembarrassing;butafterall,shecouldnothelplikingandbeingtouchedbythefriendlywarm-heartednessofwhichitseemedtospeak.Shehadscarcelypassedthroughthestoneporchintothechurchbeforethegreateventofthedayhappened.ThecarriagefromtheCastle,withitshandsomehorsesandtallliveriedservants,bowledaroundthecorneranddownthegreenlane.
“Heretheycome!”wentfromonelooker-ontoanother.
Andthenthecarriagedrewup,andThomassteppeddownandopenedthedoor,andalittleboy,dressedinblackvelvet,andwithasplendidmopofbrightwavinghair,jumpedout.
Everyman,woman,andchildlookedcuriouslyuponhim.
“He’stheCaptainoveragain!”saidthoseoftheon-lookerswhorememberedhisfather.“He’stheCaptain’sself,tothelife!”
HestoodthereinthesunlightlookingupattheEarl,asThomashelpedthatnoblemanout,withthemostaffectionateinterestthatcouldbeimagined.
