Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Heactuallyhadlearnedtobefondenoughofthatsmallboywiththemopofyellowlove-locks,tofeelthathehimselfwouldprefertobeguiltyofanamiableactionnowandthen.Andso—thoughhelaughedathimself—aftersomereflection,hesentforNewick,andhadquitealonginterviewwithhimonthesubjectoftheCourt,anditwasdecidedthatthewretchedhovelsshouldbepulleddownandnewhousesshouldbebuilt.

           “ItisLordFauntleroywhoinsistsonit,”hesaiddryly;“hethinksitwillimprovetheproperty.Youcantellthetenantsthatit’shisidea.”Andhelookeddownathissmalllordship,whowaslyingonthehearth-rugplayingwithDougal.Thegreatdogwasthelad’sconstantcompanion,andfollowedhimabouteverywhere,stalkingsolemnlyafterhimwhenhewalked,andtrottingmajesticallybehindwhenherodeordrove.

           Ofcourse,boththecountrypeopleandthetownpeopleheardoftheproposedimprovement.Atfirst,manyofthemwouldnotbelieveit;butwhenasmallarmyofworkmenarrivedandcommencedpullingdownthecrazy,squalidcottages,peoplebegantounderstandthatlittleLordFauntleroyhaddonethemagoodturnagain,andthatthroughhisinnocentinterferencethescandalofEarl’sCourthadatlastbeenremoved.Ifhehadonlyknownhowtheytalkedabouthimandpraisedhimeverywhere,andprophesiedgreatthingsforhimwhenhegrewup,howastonishedhewouldhavebeen!Butheneversuspectedit.