Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           “Well,”saidLadyLorridaile,“Iwillbefrankwithyouattheoutset,Molyneux,andtellyouIdon’tapproveofyourcourse,andthatitismyintentiontocallonMrs.Errolassoonaspossible;soifyouwishtoquarrelwithme,youhadbettermentionitatonce.WhatIhearoftheyoungcreaturemakesmequitesurethatherchildoweshereverything.WeweretoldevenatLorridaileParkthatyourpoorertenantsadoreheralready.”

           “TheyadoreHIM,”saidtheEarl,noddingtowardFauntleroy.“AstoMrs.Errol,you’llfindheraprettylittlewoman.I’mratherindebttoherforgivingsomeofherbeautytotheboy,andyoucangotoseeherifyoulike.AllIaskisthatshewillremainatCourtLodgeandthatyouwillnotaskmetogoandseeher,”andhescowledalittleagain.

           “Buthedoesn’thateherasmuchasheusedto,thatisplainenoughtome,”herladyshipsaidtoSirHarryafterward.“Andheisachangedmaninameasure,and,incredibleasitmayseem,Harry,itismyopinionthatheisbeingmadeintoahumanbeing,throughnothingmorenorlessthanhisaffectionforthatinnocent,affectionatelittlefellow.Why,thechildactuallyloveshim—leansonhischairandagainsthisknee.Hisownchildrenwouldassoonhavethoughtofnestlinguptoatiger.”

           TheverynextdayshewenttocalluponMrs.Errol.Whenshereturned,shesaidtoherbrother:

           “Molyneux,sheistheloveliestlittlewomanIeversaw!Shehasavoicelikeasilverbell,andyoumaythankherformakingtheboywhatheis.