Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter X
ButFauntleroysoonknewthathisgrandfatherlovedhimandalwayslikedhimtobenear—neartohischairiftheywereinthelibrary,oppositetohimattable,orbyhissidewhenherodeordroveortookhiseveningwalkonthebroadterrace.
“Doyouremember,”Cedricsaidonce,lookingupfromhisbookashelayontherug,“doyourememberwhatIsaidtoyouthatfirstnightaboutourbeinggoodcompanions?Idon’tthinkanypeoplecouldbebettercompanionsthanweare,doyou?”
“Weareprettygoodcompanions,Ishouldsay,”repliedhislordship.“Comehere.”
Fauntleroyscrambledupandwenttohim.
“Isthereanythingyouwant,”theEarlasked;“anythingyouhavenot?”
Thelittlefellow’sbrowneyesfixedthemselvesonhisgrandfatherwitharatherwistfullook.
“Onlyonething,”heanswered.
“Whatisthat?”inquiredtheEarl.
Fauntleroywassilentasecond.Hehadnotthoughtmattersovertohimselfsolongfornothing.
“Whatisit?”mylordrepeated.
Fauntleroyanswered.
“ItisDearest,”hesaid.
TheoldEarlwincedalittle.
“Butyouseeheralmosteveryday,”hesaid.“Isnotthatenough?”
“Iusedtoseeherallthetime,”saidFauntleroy.“SheusedtokissmewhenIwenttosleepatnight,andinthemorningshewasalwaysthere,andwecouldtelleachotherthingswithoutwaiting.”
Theoldeyesandtheyoungoneslookedintoeachotherthroughamomentofsilence.ThentheEarlknittedhisbrows.
“DoyouNEVERforgetaboutyourmother?”hesaid.
“No,”answeredFauntleroy,“never;andsheneverforgetsaboutme.
