Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           ”

           Thepeoplewhohadbeenseasickhadnosoonerrecoveredfromtheirseasickness,andcomeondecktoreclineintheirsteamer-chairsandenjoythemselves,thaneveryoneseemedtoknowtheromanticstoryoflittleLordFauntleroy,andeveryonetookaninterestinthelittlefellow,whoranabouttheshiporwalkedwithhismotherorthetall,thinoldlawyer,ortalkedtothesailors.Everyonelikedhim;hemadefriendseverywhere.Hewaseverreadytomakefriends.Whenthegentlemenwalkedupanddownthedeck,andlethimwalkwiththem,hesteppedoutwithamanly,sturdylittletramp,andansweredalltheirjokeswithmuchgayenjoyment;whentheladiestalkedtohim,therewasalwayslaughterinthegroupofwhichhewasthecenter;whenheplayedwiththechildren,therewasalwaysmagnificentfunonhand.Amongthesailorshehadtheheartiestfriends;heheardmiraculousstoriesaboutpiratesandshipwrecksanddesertislands;helearnedtospliceropesandrigtoyships,andgainedanamountofinformationconcerning“tops’ls”and“mains’ls,”quitesurprising.Hisconversationhad,indeed,quiteanauticalflavorattimes,andononeoccasionheraisedashoutoflaughterinagroupofladiesandgentlemenwhoweresittingondeck,wrappedinshawlsandovercoats,bysayingsweetly,andwithaveryengagingexpression:

           “Shivermytimbers,butit’sacoldday!”

           Itsurprisedhimwhentheylaughed.Hehadpickedupthissea-faringremarkfroman“elderlynavalman”ofthenameofJerry,whotoldhimstoriesinwhichitoccurredfrequently.