Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter V
TheEarlknittedhisbrows;hedidnotwishtoseethepicture,buthelookedatitinspiteofhimself;andtherelookedupathimfromitsuchaprettyyoungface—afacesolikethechild’sathisside—thatitquitestartledhim.
“Isupposeyouthinkyouareveryfondofher,”hesaid.
“Yes,”answeredLordFauntleroy,inagentletone,andwithsimpledirectness;“Idothinkso,andIthinkit’strue.Yousee,Mr.Hobbswasmyfriend,andDickandBridgetandMaryandMichael,theyweremyfriends,too;butDearest—well,sheismyCLOSEfriend,andwealwaystelleachothereverything.Myfatherlefthertometotakecareof,andwhenIamamanIamgoingtoworkandearnmoneyforher.”
“Whatdoyouthinkofdoing?”inquiredhisgrandfather.
Hisyounglordshipslippeddownuponthehearth-rug,andsattherewiththepicturestillinhishand.Heseemedtobereflectingseriously,beforeheanswered.
“IdidthinkperhapsImightgointobusinesswithMr.Hobbs,”hesaid;“butIshouldLIKEtobeaPresident.”
“We’llsendyoutotheHouseofLordsinstead,”saidhisgrandfather.
“Well,”remarkedLordFauntleroy,“ifICOULDN’TbeaPresident,andifthatisagoodbusiness,Ishouldn’tmind.Thegrocerybusinessisdullsometimes.”
Perhapshewasweighingthematterinhismind,forhesatveryquietafterthis,andlookedatthefireforsometime.
TheEarldidnotspeakagain.Heleanedbackinhischairandwatchedhim.Agreatmanystrangenewthoughtspassedthroughtheoldnobleman’smind
