Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter X
Shehasgivenhimmorethanherbeauty,andyoumakeagreatmistakeinnotpersuadinghertocomeandtakechargeofyou.IshallinvitehertoLorridaile.”
“She’llnotleavetheboy,”repliedtheEarl.
“Imusthavetheboytoo,”saidLadyLorridaile,laughing.
ButsheknewFauntleroywouldnotbegivenuptoher,andeachdayshesawmoreclearlyhowcloselythosetwohadgrowntoeachother,andhowalltheproud,grimoldman’sambitionandhopeandlovecenteredthemselvesinthechild,andhowthewarm,innocentnaturereturnedhisaffectionwithmostperfecttrustandgoodfaith.
Sheknew,too,thattheprimereasonforthegreatdinnerpartywastheEarl’ssecretdesiretoshowtheworldhisgrandsonandheir,andtoletpeopleseethattheboywhohadbeensomuchspokenofanddescribedwasevenafinerlittlespecimenofboyhoodthanrumorhadmadehim.
“BevisandMauriceweresuchabitterhumiliationtohim,”shesaidtoherhusband.“Everyoneknewit.Heactuallyhatedthem.Hispridehasfullswayhere.”PerhapstherewasnotonepersonwhoacceptedtheinvitationwithoutfeelingsomecuriosityaboutlittleLordFauntleroy,andwonderingifhewouldbeonview.
Andwhenthetimecamehewasonview.
“Theladhasgoodmanners,”saidtheEarl.“Hewillbeinnoone’sway.Childrenareusuallyidiotsorbores,—minewereboth,—buthecanactuallyanswerwhenhe’sspokento,andbesilentwhenheisnot.Heisneveroffensive.”
Buthewasnotallowedtobesilentverylong.Everyonehadsomethingtosaytohim.Thefactwastheywishedtomakehimtalk.
