Chapter Three

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 52, Issue 3756, 15 May 1936, Page 9

Chapter Three

The next morning Little Lord Flauntleroy receives further' introductions to the grand surroundings in which fate has placed him. He proceeds promptly to make a solid

friend of Dawson, who has been detailed to “take care of him.” “Miss Dawson or Mrs. Dawson?” he inquires of Mrs. Mellon, the housekeeper at the castle. “Just Dawson, my lord,” says Mrs. Mellon. “She is here to do anything you ask of her.” The haughty Earl is impatiently awaiting the appearance of his grandson in the library. Mr. Mor-; daunt, the clergyman, calls and hands his hat to Thomas, the footman. In the library he finds Ceddie 1 and the Earl, down on their hands and knees, shooting marbles. The sight almost staggers Mordaunt. “Any good at marbles, Mordaunt?” the Earl asks his amazed caller. He astonishes Mordaunt further by giving him a gracious hand shake. Then he Introduces Ceddie as “the new Lord Fauntleroy.” “Fauntleroy, this is the rector of the parish.” Mordaunt has come to plead the cause of one of the Earl’s tenants,. Higgins, who is behind in his rent. Higgins’ wife is ill. Ceddie listens to the conversation interestedly. “What would you do in this case?’’ the Earl asks Ceddie. “I should let him stay and give him the things for his children that they need.” Dorincourt directs Ceddie to write a letter to Newick, the Earl’s agent, saying Higgins is not to be interfered with for the present. Mordaunt is astonished. Ceddie writes: “Dear mr. newick if you pleas mr. higins is not to be inturfeared with for the present and oblige Yours rispecferly “Fauntleroy.” 'Ceddie tells his grandfather: “I think you must be the best person in the world.. .1 shall write and tell Mr. Hobbs.’ “What is Mr. Hobbs’ opinion of Earls?” the old man asks. “He thought you mustn’t mind that they were gory tyrants and he said he wouldn’t have them hang-

Ing round his store. But if he’d known you I’m sure he would have felt quite different.’’ After Mordaunt departs the Earl tries to divert Ceddie’s mind from Dearest by telling him about the pony that is awaiting him.. Ceddie will not be put off. He and the Earl are driven to Court Lodge. The Earl does not get out, to Ceddie’s surprise. “Not not to see Dearest?" he cries. “Dearest will excuse me,” says the Earl dryly. He gazes backward ,as the carriage is driven away and glimpses the eager greeting between mother and son. His face is bitter. On the following Sunday at Erleboro Church the congregation is hugely excited. Gossip of the. new Little Lord Fauntleroy has filled the countryside. As Dearest approaches the church all the tepants and their wives and families greet her. She has already made a good impres- '

sion and Higgins has spread far and wide the story of the letter that Ceddie wrote to him. T|ie general opinion is that the new Cord Fauntleroy is “Capt&in Cedric comes to life again,” There is excitement when the Earl himself is seen coming tc. church with his grandson. They enter the Dorincourt pew and Ceddie glances across the church at his mother. He sees a tablet on the wall showing two figures in antique dress, hand uplifted before missals. An inscription on the talbet says: ‘‘Here lyeth ye bodyc of Gregorys Arthure, Fyrst Earle of, Dorincourt. Allsoe of Alisone Hildegarde hys wyfe.” ’ “who are they?” Ceddie asks his grandfather excitedly. “Some of your ancestors who lived a few hundred years ago,” the Earl answers. After the service Higgins ap- . proaches Lord Fauntleroy and begs permission to thank him. “I only wrote the letter,’’ Ceddii tells him. “It was my grandfather who did it. You know how kind he always is to everybody.’ And the Earl, wearing a very grim smile indeed: adds: “You see, Higgins, people have been mistaken in me. When you want reliable information on the subject of my character, apply to him. Get into the carriage, Fauntleroy.” On the way to the castle the carriage passes Dearest. Ceddie waves while his grandfather ignores hers The Earl engages him tn conversation about Dearest, and Ceddie assures him that he misses her greatly even though he sees her almost every day. “If I didn’t live with you,’’, the boy says earnestly, “I should think about you all the more.” “’Pon my word, I believe you would!” the Earl exclaima. (To be Continued.)