Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VIII
’An’I’mblessedifthewomanwasn’tstruckallofaheap,aswellshemightbe!IthoughtIshould’a’hex-plodid,myself!”
WhentheEarlheardthestoryhewasnotangry,asWilkinshadbeenhalfafraidthathewouldbe;onthecontrary,helaughedoutright,andcalledFauntleroyuptohim,andmadehimtellallaboutthematterfrombeginningtoend,andthenhelaughedagain.Andactually,afewdayslater,theDorincourtcarriagestoppedinthegreenlanebeforethecottagewherethelameboylived,andFauntleroyjumpedoutandwalkeduptothedoor,carryingapairofstrong,light,newcrutchesshoulderedlikeagun,andpresentedthemtoMrs.Hartle(thelameboy’snamewasHartle)withthesewords:“Mygrandfather’scompliments,andifyouplease,theseareforyourboy,andwehopehewillgetbetter.”
“Isaidyourcompliments,”heexplainedtotheEarlwhenhereturnedtothecarriage.“Youdidn’ttellmeto,butIthoughtperhapsyouforgot.Thatwasright,wasn’tit?”
AndtheEarllaughedagain,anddidnotsayitwasnot.Infact,thetwowerebecomingmoreintimateeveryday,andeverydayFauntleroy’sfaithinhislordship’sbenevolenceandvirtueincreased.Hehadnodoubtwhateverthathisgrandfatherwasthemostamiableandgenerousofelderlygentlemen.Certainly,hehimselffoundhiswishesgratifiedalmostbeforetheywereuttered;andsuchgiftsandpleasureswerelavisheduponhim,thathewassometimesalmostbewilderedbyhisownpossessions.Apparently,hewastohaveeverythinghewanted,andtodoeverythinghewishedtodo.
