Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Theyreadandre-readthem,andtalkedthemoverandenjoyedeverywordofthem.Andtheyspentdaysovertheanswerstheysentandreadthemoveralmostasoftenastheletterstheyhadreceived.

           ItwasratheralaborforDicktowritehis.Allhisknowledgeofreadingandwritinghehadgainedduringafewmonths,whenhehadlivedwithhiselderbrother,andhadgonetoanight-school;but,beingasharpboy,hehadmadethemostofthatbriefeducation,andhadspelledoutthingsinnewspaperssincethen,andpracticedwritingwithbitsofchalkonpavementsorwallsorfences.HetoldMr.Hobbsallabouthislifeandabouthiselderbrother,whohadbeenrathergoodtohimaftertheirmotherdied,whenDickwasquitealittlefellow.Theirfatherhaddiedsometimebefore.Thebrother’snamewasBen,andhehadtakencareofDickaswellashecould,untiltheboywasoldenoughtosellnewspapersandrunerrands.Theyhadlivedtogether,andashegrewolderBenhadmanagedtogetalonguntilhehadquiteadecentplaceinastore.

           “Andthen,”exclaimedDickwithdisgust,“blestifhedidn’tgoan’marryagal!Justwentandgotspoonyan’hadn’tanymoresenseleft!Marriedher,an’setuphousekeepin’intwobackrooms.An’aheftyunshewas,—aregulartiger-cat.She’dtearthingstopieceswhenshegotmad,—andshewasmadALLthetime.Hadababyjustlikeher,—yellday’n’night!An’ifIdidn’thaveto’tendit!an’whenitscreamed,she’dfirethingsatme.Shefiredaplateatmeoneday,an’hitthebaby—cutitschin.