Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Andthoughthiswouldcertainlynothavebeenaverywiseplantopursuewithallsmallboys,hisyounglordshipboreitamazinglywell.Perhaps,notwithstandinghissweetnature,hemighthavebeensomewhatspoiledbyit,ifithadnotbeenforthehourshespentwithhismotheratCourtLodge.That“bestfriend”ofhiswatchedoverhimevercloselyandtenderly.Thetwohadmanylongtalkstogether,andheneverwentbacktotheCastlewithherkissesonhischeekswithoutcarryinginhisheartsomesimple,purewordsworthremembering.

           Therewasonething,itistrue,whichpuzzledthelittlefellowverymuch.Hethoughtoverthemysteryofitmuchoftenerthananyonesupposed;evenhismotherdidnotknowhowoftenheponderedonit;theEarlforalongtimeneversuspectedthathedidsoatall.But,beingquicktoobserve,thelittleboycouldnothelpwonderingwhyitwasthathismotherandgrandfatherneverseemedtomeet.Hehadnoticedthattheyneverdidmeet.WhentheDorincourtcarriagestoppedatCourtLodge,theEarlneveralighted,andontherareoccasionsofhislordship’sgoingtochurch,Fauntleroywasalwayslefttospeaktohismotherintheporchalone,orperhapstogohomewithher.Andyet,everyday,fruitandflowersweresenttoCourtLodgefromthehot-housesattheCastle.ButtheonevirtuousactionoftheEarl’swhichhadsethimuponthepinnacleofperfectioninCedric’seyes,waswhathehaddonesoonafterthatfirstSundaywhenMrs.Errolhadwalkedhomefromchurchunattended.