Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter X
”
Whenheleftthem,theworkmenusedtotalkhimoveramongthemselves,andlaughathisodd,innocentspeeches;buttheylikedhim,andlikedtoseehimstandamongthem,talkingaway,withhishandsinhispockets,hishatpushedbackonhiscurls,andhissmallfacefullofeagerness.“He’sarareun,”theyusedtosay.“An’anoicelittleoutspokenchap,too.Notmucho’th’badstockinhim.”Andtheywouldgohomeandtelltheirwivesabouthim,andthewomenwouldtelleachother,andsoitcameaboutthatalmosteveryonetalkedof,orknewsomestoryof,littleLordFauntleroy;andgraduallyalmosteveryoneknewthatthe“wickedEarl”hadfoundsomethinghecaredforatlast—somethingwhichhadtouchedandevenwarmedhishard,bitteroldheart.
Butnooneknewquitehowmuchithadbeenwarmed,andhowdaybydaytheoldmanfoundhimselfcaringmoreandmoreforthechild,whowastheonlycreaturethathadevertrustedhim.HefoundhimselflookingforwardtothetimewhenCedricwouldbeayoungman,strongandbeautiful,withlifeallbeforehim,buthavingstillthatkindheartandthepowertomakefriendseverywhere,andtheEarlwonderedwhattheladwoulddo,andhowhewouldusehisgifts.Oftenashewatchedthelittlefellowlyinguponthehearth,conningsomebigbook,thelightshiningonthebrightyounghead,hisoldeyeswouldgleamandhischeekwouldflush.
“Theboycandoanything,”hewouldsaytohimself,“anything!”
HeneverspoketoanyoneelseofhisfeelingforCedric;whenhespokeofhimtoothersitwasalwayswiththesamegrimsmile.
