Chapter Four

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 25, Issue 3759, 22 May 1936, Page 9

Chapter Four

As the friendship between Ceddie and his grandfather waxes stronger and they grow chummier Ceddie writes the following letter to Mr. Hobbs:

my dear nr. Hobbs 1 must tell you about my grandfarther immediately it is all a mistake about earls being tirents my grandfarther is the best earl you ever knew he is tearing down a lot of old hovels and building nice new cottages, so the people will try harder to deserve it my grandfarther is not a tirent at all he reminds me of you he is a unerversle favrit ” Back in New York, Hobbs and Dick read Fauntleroy’s letter with keen interest. Their general conclusion Is that it is too bad Ceddie has got to become an earl. "He would have been a shinin' light in the grocery business,” says Mr. Hobbs. He offers Dick free lodgings and Dick accepts gleefully. Meanwhile in England Ceddie is going on to new triumphs—social triumphs. Sir Harry and Lady Lorridaile are invited to Dorincourt. Lady Constantia Lorridaile, the Earl’s sister, has not seen her brother for more than thirty years. News has reached the Lorridailes of the miraculous changes observed in the Earl of Dorincourt since the arrival of his grandson and they are eager to see for themselves just what has happened to the testy old fellow. At a grand dinner given by Dorincourt—in reality to provide an occasion for showing off Fauntleroy —his boundless pride in the youngster and his evident love for him cause endless talk. Lady Constantia falls immediately in love with Ceddie, who reminds her so much of his father. The Earl confesses

to his sister that he is "a fine little fellow." “There's a risk," he says, of my becoming rather an old fool about him.” “By the way—the mother," says his sister. “What does she think of you?” "I don’t know,” comes the sharp answer. “I haven’t asked her. But I am rather indebted to her for giving some of her own beauty to the boy.” A very lovely young lady, Miss Herbert, is Introduced to Ceddie and makes a great fuss over him. An elderly nobleman observes to a friend of his: “Tve known Dorincourt for thir-ty-five years and this is the first time he's ever bothered to inquire about my health. Most extraordinary!” At the height of the party Havisham arrives. He is quite evidently excited and

I tells the Earl when he draws him - to one side: "I was detained by extraordinary ■ news.” “News? What news’” Dorincourt i demands. > “Later, my lord, later.” After the gay dinner and the . music, Ceddie falls asleep. Havii sham and Dorincourt are in ths library when the guests have de- . parted. "I have bad news, my lord,” says • Havisham. ‘'The worst of news. I’m sorry to have to be the bearer of it." He thereupon informs the Earl that a new claimant has arisen to the title of Lord Fauntleroy, an American woman of evidently ill breeding who claims to have been the wife of the Earl’s son Bevis and the mother of Bovis’ son. This is indeed a bombshell. Dorincourt, obviously shaken, bends over little Ceddie asleep on the sofa. “And I—l object to his mother,” he says. “I suppose this is retribution.” Thoroughly aroused, determined to protect the boy he loves, he tells Havisham the other must be an impostor. The solicitor reminds the Earl of the law, which decrees that the progeny of the elder son must succeed to the title. Dorincourt can not go counter to the law no matter how his preferences may lie. When the solicitor goes, Dorin* eburt summons a footman, points to the sleeping Ceddie, and orders: “Take Lord Fauntleroy to his l room.” i To be continued