Маленький лорд Фаунтлерой
Chapter VI
“It’snotveryheavy.”
“Verywell,”repliedhisgrandfather.Thelurkingsmiledeepenedontheoldman’sfaceashewatchedthelittlefellow’spreparations;therewassuchanabsorbedinterestinthem.Thesmalltablewasdraggedforwardandplacedbyhischair,andthegametakenfromitsboxandarrangeduponit.
“It’sveryinterestingwhenyouoncebegin,”saidFauntleroy.“Yousee,theblackpegscanbeyoursideandthewhiteonesmine.They’remen,youknow,andonceroundthefieldisahomerunandcountsone—andthesearetheouts—andhereisthefirstbaseandthat’sthesecondandthat’sthethirdandthat’sthehomebase.”
Heenteredintothedetailsofexplanationwiththegreatestanimation.Heshowedalltheattitudesofpitcherandcatcherandbatterintherealgame,andgaveadramaticdescriptionofawonderful“hotball”hehadseencaughtonthegloriousoccasiononwhichhehadwitnessedamatchincompanywithMr.Hobbs.Hisvigorous,gracefullittlebody,hiseagergestures,hissimpleenjoymentofitall,werepleasanttobehold.
Whenatlasttheexplanationsandillustrationswereatanendandthegamebeganingoodearnest,theEarlstillfoundhimselfentertained.Hisyoungcompanionwaswhollyabsorbed;heplayedwithallhischildishheart;hisgaylittlelaughswhenhemadeagoodthrow,hisenthusiasmovera“homerun,”hisimpartialdelightoverhisowngoodluckandhisopponent’s,wouldhavegivenaflavortoanygame.
