Oldal 163 [163]
LITILE LORD FAUNTLEROY. 143
it was decided that the wretched hovels should be pulled down and
new houses should be built.
‘It is Lord Fauntleroy who insists on it,” he said dryly; "he
thinks it will improve the property. You can tell the tenants that
it s his idea.” And he looked down at his small lordship, who was
lying on the hearth-rug playing with Dougal. The great dog was
the láds constant companion, and followed him about everywhere,
stalking solemnly after him when he walked, and trotting majestic¬
ally behind when he rode or drove.
Of course, both the country people and the town people heard
of the proposed improvement. At first, many of them would not
believe it; but when a small army of workmen arrived and com¬
menced pulling down the crazy, squalid cottages, people began to
understand that little Lord Fauntleroy had done them a good turn
again, and that through his innocent interference the scandal of
Earl’s Court had at last been removed. If he had only known how
they talked about him and praised him everywhere, and prophesied
great things for him when he grew up, how astonished he would
have been! But he never suspected it. He lived his simple, happy,
child life,—frolicking about in the park; chasing the rabbits to their
burrows; lying under the trees on the grass, or on the rug in the
library, reading wonderful books and talking to the Earl about them,
and then telling the stories again to his mother; writing long letters
to Dick and Mr. Hobbs, who responded in characteristic fashion ;
riding out at his grandfather’s side, or with Wilkins as escort. As
they rode through the market town, he used to see the people turn
and look, and he noticed that as they lifted their hats their faces
often brightened very much; but he thought it was all because his
grandfather was with him.
“They are so fond of you,” he once said, looking up at his lord¬
ship with a bright smile. "Do you see how glad they are when