Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Whenthegroomhadbroughtouttheprettycreature,whicharcheditsbrown,glossyneckandtosseditsfineheadinthesun,theEarlhadsatattheopenwindowofthelibraryandhadlookedonwhileFauntleroytookhisfirstridinglesson.Hewonderediftheboywouldshowsignsoftimidity.Itwasnotaverysmallpony,andhehadoftenseenchildrenlosecourageinmakingtheirfirstessayatriding.

           Fauntleroymountedingreatdelight.Hehadneverbeenonaponybefore,andhewasinthehighestspirits.Wilkins,thegroom,ledtheanimalbythebridleupanddownbeforethelibrarywindow.

           “He’sawellpluckedun,heis,”Wilkinsremarkedinthestableafterwardwithmanygrins.“Itweren’tnotroubletoputHIMup.An’aoldunwouldn’tha’satanystraighterwhenheWEREup.Heses—seshetome,’Wilkins,’heses,’amIsittingupstraight?Theysitupstraightatthecircus,’seshe.An’Ises,’Asstraightasaarrer,yourlordship!’—an’helaughs,aspleasedascouldbe,an’heses,’That’sright,’heses,’youtellmeifIdon’tsitupstraight,Wilkins!’”

           Butsittingupstraightandbeingledatawalkwerenotaltogetherandcompletelysatisfactory.Afterafewminutes,Fauntleroyspoketohisgrandfather—watchinghimfromthewindow:

           “Can’tIgobymyself?”heasked;“andcan’tIgofaster?TheboyonFifthAvenueusedtotrotandcanter!”

           “Doyouthinkyoucouldtrotandcanter?”saidtheEarl.

           “Ishouldliketotry,”answeredFauntleroy.