Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           “Jerry’sstoriesint’rustthemverymuch,”hesaidtohismamma.“Formypart—youmustexcuseme,Dearest—butsometimesIshouldhavethoughttheycouldn’tbeallquitetrue,iftheyhadn’thappenedtoJerryhimself;butastheyallhappenedtoJerry—well,it’sverystrange,youknow,andperhapssometimeshemayforgetandbealittlemistaken,ashe’sbeenscalpedsooften.Beingscalpedagreatmanytimesmightmakeapersonforgetful.”

           Itwaselevendaysafterhehadsaidgood-byetohisfriendDickbeforehereachedLiverpool;anditwasonthenightofthetwelfthdaythatthecarriageinwhichheandhismotherandMr.HavishamhaddrivenfromthestationstoppedbeforethegatesofCourtLodge.Theycouldnotseemuchofthehouseinthedarkness.Cedriconlysawthattherewasadrive-wayundergreatarchingtrees,andafterthecarriagehadrolleddownthisdrive-wayashortdistance,hesawanopendoorandastreamofbrightlightcomingthroughit.

           Maryhadcomewiththemtoattendhermistress,andshehadreachedthehousebeforethem.WhenCedricjumpedoutofthecarriagehesawoneortwoservantsstandinginthewide,brighthall,andMarystoodinthedoor-way.

           LordFauntleroysprangatherwithagaylittleshout.

           “Didyougethere,Mary?”hesaid.“Here’sMary,Dearest,”andhekissedthemaidonherroughredcheek.

           “Iamgladyouarehere,Mary,”Mrs.Errolsaidtoherinalowvoice.“Itissuchacomforttometoseeyou.Ittakesthestrangenessaway.”Andsheheldoutherlittlehand,whichMarysqueezedencouragingly.