Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           Itisaverylittlething,perhaps,butitisthebestthingofall.Heknewnothingofearlsandcastles;hewasquiteignorantofallgrandandsplendidthings;buthewasalwayslovablebecausehewassimpleandloving.Tobesoislikebeingbornaking.

           AstheoldEarlofDorincourtlookedathimthatday,movingabouttheparkamongthepeople,talkingtothoseheknewandmakinghisreadylittlebowwhenanyonegreetedhim,entertaininghisfriendsDickandMr.Hobbs,orstandingnearhismotherorMissHerbertlisteningtotheirconversation,theoldnoblemanwasverywellsatisfiedwithhim.Andhehadneverbeenbettersatisfiedthanhewaswhentheywentdowntothebiggesttent,wherethemoreimportanttenantsoftheDorincourtestateweresittingdowntothegrandcollationoftheday.

           Theyweredrinkingtoasts;and,aftertheyhaddrunkthehealthoftheEarl,withmuchmoreenthusiasmthanhisnamehadeverbeengreetedwithbefore,theyproposedthehealthof“LittleLordFauntleroy.”Andiftherehadeverbeenanydoubtatallastowhetherhislordshipwaspopularornot,itwouldhavebeensettledthatinstant.Suchaclamorofvoices,andsucharattleofglassesandapplause!Theyhadbeguntolikehimsomuch,thosewarm-heartedpeople,thattheyforgottofeelanyrestraintbeforetheladiesandgentlemenfromthecastle,whohadcometoseethem.