Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Sometimeshewouldtellhisyoungcompaniontosettheponyoffatagallop,andwhenthelittlefellowdashedoff,sittingsostraightandfearless,hewouldwatchhimwithagleamofprideandpleasureinhiseyes;andwhen,aftersuchadash,Fauntleroycamebackwavinghiscapwithalaughingshout,healwaysfeltthatheandhisgrandfatherwereverygoodfriendsindeed.

           OnethingthattheEarldiscoveredwasthathisson’swifedidnotleadanidlelife.Itwasnotlongbeforehelearnedthatthepoorpeopleknewherverywellindeed.Whentherewassicknessorsorroworpovertyinanyhouse,thelittlebroughamoftenstoodbeforethedoor.

           “Doyouknow,”saidFauntleroyonce,“theyallsay,’Godblessyou!’whentheyseeher,andthechildrenareglad.Therearesomewhogotoherhousetobetaughttosew.Shesaysshefeelssorichnowthatshewantstohelpthepoorones.”

           IthadnotdispleasedtheEarltofindthatthemotherofhisheirhadabeautifulyoungfaceandlookedasmuchlikealadyasifshehadbeenaduchess;andinonewayitdidnotdispleasehimtoknowthatshewaspopularandbelovedbythepoor.Andyethewasoftenconsciousofahard,jealouspangwhenhesawhowshefilledherchild’sheartandhowtheboyclungtoherashisbestbeloved.Theoldmanwouldhavedesiredtostandfirsthimselfandhavenorival.

           Thatsamemorninghedrewuphishorseonanelevatedpointofthemooroverwhichtheyrode,andmadeagesturewithhiswhip,overthebroad,beautifullandscapespreadbeforethem.

           “Doyouknowthatallthatlandbelongstome?”hesaidtoFauntleroy.