Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter IX
Thetearsrandownhercheekswhenshetoldmeaboutit!”
Thetearshadcomeintohisowneyes,buthesmiledthroughthem.
“Itoldheryoudidn’tknow,andIwouldtellyou,”hesaid.HejumpeddownandcameandleanedagainsttheEarl’schair.“Youcanmakeitallright,”hesaid,“justasyoumadeitallrightforHiggins.Youalwaysmakeitallrightforeverybody.Itoldheryouwould,andthatNewickmusthaveforgottentotellyou.”
TheEarllookeddownatthehandonhisknee.Newickhadnotforgottentotellhim;infact,NewickhadspokentohimmorethanonceofthedesperateconditionoftheendofthevillageknownasEarl’sCourt.Heknewallaboutthetumble-down,miserablecottages,andthebaddrainage,andthedampwallsandbrokenwindowsandleakingroofs,andallaboutthepoverty,thefever,andthemisery.Mr.Mordaunthadpainteditalltohiminthestrongestwordshecoulduse,andhislordshiphadusedviolentlanguageinresponse;and,whenhisgouthadbeenattheworst,hesaidthatthesoonerthepeopleofEarl’sCourtdiedandwereburiedbytheparishthebetteritwouldbe,—andtherewasanendofthematter.Andyet,ashelookedatthesmallhandonhisknee,andfromthesmallhandtothehonest,earnest,frank-eyedface,hewasactuallyalittleashamedbothofEarl’sCourtandhimself.
“What!”hesaid;“youwanttomakeabuilderofmodelcottagesofme,doyou?”Andhepositivelyputhisownhanduponthechildishoneandstrokedit.
“Thosemustbepulleddown,”saidFauntleroy,withgreateagerness.“Dearestsaysso
