Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой

           “An’ofallthewicious,savage,hill-temperedholdfellowsitwasevermyhill-lucktowearliveryhunder,”thetallestfootmanhadsaid,“he’sthewiolentestandwustbyalongshot.”

           Andthisparticularfootman,whosenamewasThomas,hadalsorepeatedtohiscompanionsbelowstairssomeoftheEarl’sremarkstoMr.Havisham,whentheyhadbeendiscussingtheseverypreparations.

           “Givehimhisownway,andfillhisroomswithtoys,”mylordhadsaid.“Givehimwhatwillamusehim,andhe’llforgetabouthismotherquicklyenough.Amusehim,andfillhismindwithotherthings,andweshallhavenotrouble.That’sboynature.”

           So,perhaps,havinghadthistrulyamiableobjectinview,itdidnotpleasehimsoverymuchtofinditdidnotseemtobeexactlythisparticularboy’snature.TheEarlhadpassedabadnightandhadspentthemorninginhisroom;butatnoon,afterhehadlunched,hesentforhisgrandson.

           Fauntleroyansweredthesummonsatonce.Hecamedownthebroadstaircasewithaboundingstep;theEarlheardhimrunacrossthehall,andthenthedooropenedandhecameinwithredcheeksandsparklingeyes.

           “Iwaswaitingforyoutosendforme,”hesaid.“Iwasreadyalongtimeago.I’mEVERsomuchobligedtoyouforallthosethings!I’mEVERsomuchobligedtoyou!Ihavebeenplayingwiththemallthemorning.”

           “Oh!”saidtheEarl,“youlikethem,doyou?”

           “Ilikethemsomuch—well,Icouldn’ttellyouhowmuch!”saidFauntleroy,hisfaceglowingwithdelight.