Stranica 178 [178]
158 LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY.
ES Ee ——
Miss Vivian Herbert,—the great beauty of the last London season ;
they had been looking at some pictures, and he was thanking his
companion as the door opened.
‘“T’m ever so much obliged to you for being so kind to me!” he
was saying; "1 never was at a party before, and | ve enjoyed my¬
self so much!”
He had enjoyed himself so much that when the gentlemen
gathered about Miss Herbert again and began to talk to her, as he
listened and tried to understand their laughing speeches, his eyelids
began to droop. They drooped until they covered his eyes two or
three times, and then the sound of Miss Herbert’s low, pretty laugh
would bring him back, and he would open them again for about two
seconds. He was quite sure he was not going to sleep, but there
was a large, yellow satin cushion behind him and his head sank
against it, and after a while his eyelids drooped for the last time.
They did not even quite open when, as it seemed a long time after,
some one kissed him lightly on the cheek. It was Miss Vivian
Herbert, who was going away, and she spoke to him softly.
‘“ Good-night, little Lord Fauntleroy,” she said. ‘Sleep well.”
And in the morning he did not know that he had tried to open
his eyes and had murmured sleepily, " R000: night—I’m so—glad
— Í saw you —you are so — pretty
He only had a very faint recollection of hearing the gentlemen
laugh again and of wondering why they did it.
No sooner had the last guest left the room, than Mr. Havisham
turned from his place by the fire, and stepped nearer the sofa, where
he stood looking down at the sleeping occupant. Little Lord Faunt¬
leroy was taking his ease luxuriously. One leg crossed the other
and swung over the edge of the sofa; one arm was flung easily
above his head; the warm flush of healthful, happy, childish
sleep was on his quiet face; his waving tangle of bright hair strayed