Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter V
Itseemedalmosttoogoodtobetruethatthisshouldbetheboyhehaddreadedtosee—thechildofthewomanhesodisliked—thislittlefellowwithsomuchbeautyandsuchabrave,childishgrace!TheEarl’ssterncomposurewasquiteshakenbythisstartlingsurprise.
Andthentheirtalkbegan;andhewasstillmorecuriouslymoved,andmoreandmorepuzzled.Inthefirstplace,hewassousedtoseeingpeopleratherafraidandembarrassedbeforehim,thathehadexpectednothingelsebutthathisgrandsonwouldbetimidorshy.ButCedricwasnomoreafraidoftheEarlthanhehadbeenofDougal.Hewasnotbold;hewasonlyinnocentlyfriendly,andhewasnotconsciousthattherecouldbeanyreasonwhyheshouldbeawkwardorafraid.TheEarlcouldnothelpseeingthatthelittleboytookhimforafriendandtreatedhimasone,withouthavinganydoubtofhimatall.Itwasquiteplainasthelittlefellowsatthereinhistallchairandtalkedinhisfriendlywaythatithadneveroccurredtohimthatthislarge,fierce-lookingoldmancouldbeanythingbutkindtohim,andratherpleasedtoseehimthere.Anditwasplain,too,that,inhischildishway,hewishedtopleaseandinteresthisgrandfather.Cross,andhard-hearted,andworldlyastheoldEarlwas,hecouldnothelpfeelingasecretandnovelpleasureinthisveryconfidence.Afterall,itwasnotdisagreeabletomeetsomeonewhodidnotdistrusthimorshrinkfromhim,orseemtodetecttheuglypartofhisnature;someonewholookedathimwithclear,unsuspectingeyes,—ifitwasonlyalittleboyinablackvelvetsuit.
