Little Lord Fauntleroy Page #2

Me and the boys were playing

a bang-up game of Kick-the-Can.

This is Mr. Havisham, Ceddie.

Pleased to meet you, Mr. Havisham.

So. This is little Lord Fauntleroy!

It's long past your bedtime, Ceddie.

I know. But I've just been

trying to get it straight.

It is rather a lot

for a small boy to grasp.

Let me see

if I can explain it more clearly.

Your grandfather, whom you've

never met, is an Earl.

That's an aristocrat,

according to Mr. Hobbs.

Aris-TO-crat!

His second oldest son,

your uncle Maurice,

would've become the Earl in time.

If he hadn't been killed

in a fall from a horse.

His second eldest son, your uncle

Bevis, would then have become the Earl.

But he died this past year

in Rome of a tumor.

That was papa.

So papa died too. And that leaves me.

Yes. And in time, you will be

the Earl of Dorincourt.

But until then, you're Lord Fauntleroy.

Do I have to be?

None of the other boys are.

It is a very great honor, Ceddie.

And it would make your papa very happy.

Well, if there's no getting out of it, I

guess I'll have to make the best of it.

And I know you will.

When do we have to go away?

Mr. Havisham is

making the arrangements.

And will come tomorrow

to tell us the particulars.

Mary is coming too, isn't she?

If I have to swim me way over!

That would be a sight.

I'm going to have a time now,

explaining what happened to Mr. Hobbs?

Thank you, Mrs. Grabowski.

Help yourself to a licorice there,

Ceddie.

- No, thanks.

- Huh?

Do you recall

what we talked about yesterday?

Uh, politics?

We also talked about Lords

and Earls and Marquises.

Recalled and entered

the conversation, yes.

Do you recall you said,

you wouldn't have a Lord nor a Marquis

sitting on one of your barrels?

I sure do. And I wouldn't!

Well, there's one sitting

on your barrel right now, Mr. Hobbs.

You got a headache?

You got a pain somewhere?

I'm fine. And it's the truth, Mr. Hobbs.

Right now, I'm Lord Fauntleroy.

But someday, I will be an Earl.

You got some story.

I best take you home.

I'm fine. And it's the truth, Mr. Hobbs.

I wrote down my grandpa's name exactly.

So I could tell it to you.

"John Arthur Molyneux Errol,

Earl of Dorincourt."

All my grandpa's sons died,

including my papa.

It looks like I'm stuck with it.

- I'll be jiggered.

- I'm jiggered too, Mr. Hobbs.

You've been dealt a mighty low blow,

Ceddie.

I'll be glad to meet my grandpa.

That part's all right.

But I give you my word. When I'm

an Earl someday, I wont be a tyrant.

It'll be an uphill fight.

But I reckon you'll make it.

Seeing as how your half-American.

Best half, I have my lights.

Then we're still friends?

To the death!

In spite of your misfortune.

Thanks, Mr. Hobbs!

Guess this news isn't bad after all.

The Earl is anxious

his grandson should look forward

with some pleasure

to his future life in England.

And said that if he would expressed

any wishes, I should gratify them.

That much?

Oh, hardly an untoward sum, Mrs. Errol.

You must remember that a great change

has taken place in your son's life.

Maybe it won't be all that bad, mama.

Being an aristocrat.

Now if I can give Dick money

to buy out Jake.

And buy Mr. Hobbs

a genuine gold watch.

I guess my grandpas just about

the best person in the whole world.

Your grandfather will deny you

nothing money can purchase.

I'll be blowed!!

If that's not enough to buy Jake out,

I'll ask Mr. Havisham for more.

Enough? This is more than enough.

Good. Don't forget to buy

a boss sign too, Dick.

I'll be jiggered!

There's writing inside

of the genuine gold watch, Mr. Hobbs.

It says " From your oldest friend,

Lord Fauntleroy."

"from Ceddie to Mr. Hobbs."

"when this you see, remember me."

I ain't like to forget you.

I'm sorry. I won't be able

to become a Democrat now, Mr. Hobbs.

It's the Democrat's loss, Ceddie.

Well-

I guess I better go.

Mr. Havisham is coming to get us.

I'll have to get dressed up proper.

Here. You take this for luck.

But it's your kerchief.

With lucky horseshoes.

You'll be needing the luck now.

You wear it when you're

with all them swells.

Thanks, Dick. I will.

I'll write and tell you how

it is being Lord Fauntleroy.

You usually enjoy

our morning stroll on deck.

Is something troubling you?

My ma told me last night

she and Mary won't be living

in the same house as me and grandpa.

They will be close by.

You be able to see

your mother every day.

I know.

That's what my ma told me too.

But I can't figure why they can't live

in grandpa's house along with me.

Do you suppose this is

the reason, Mr. Havisham?

That my grandpa thinks

I ought to have a change?

Because I've been living

with ladies all my life.

One could assume that.

Well, that's all right.

Then it's just for a while.

You think you'll be fond

of your grandfather?

When a person does a lot for you,

it means you grab part of it.

It's found to be fun.

And he'll be fond of me.

Because grandpas are always

fond of their grandsons.

That would seem a logical assumption.

Is where we're going anything

like Hester Street, Mr. Havisham?

Like Hester Street?

I doubt you'll find any place

in England quite like Hester Street.

Guess I'll have to make the best of it.

Oh I don't think you'll be disappointed.

There's no place like England.

And nowhere more fair

than the English countryside.

- Is far away, Mr. Havisham?

- We should be there by nightfall.

Wake-up, Ceddie.

We're here.

Ah, Dawson's here. Hes the Earl's

housekeeper, from the castle.

- Kindly bring in the trunk with them.

- Yes, sir.

I'll keep an eye on them.

I ain't overly trustful of foreigners.

As you wish. This way, Mrs. Errol.

- Welcome to Court Cottage.

- Thank you.

- Good evening, Dawson.

- Hi.

I trust the journey was pleasant, ma'am?

It was.

And it's kind of you to greet us.

This is sure a fine house.

Dawson, this is Lord Fauntleroy.

Others bow and curtsy. Not you.

Oh. Sorry.

I guess I'll get it figured out in time.

I knew your father when he was

a little boy, your Lordship.

You're very like him.

That's what my ma always said.

Look, Mama!

Her name is Cleo, ma'am.

I thought she might keep you company.

And she shall. Thank you.

Kindly take the trunk to the bedroom

at the head of the stairs.

Yes, ma'am.

Ceddie is so tired.

Surely, he can stay here tonight?

Perhaps it would be just as well.

I'll see you Lord Fauntleroy

is put to bed.

I've been seeing to him

since he came into the world.

And I ain't about to stop now.

Of course.

- Go along with Mary, Ceddie.

- Good night, mama.

- Good night, Mr. Havisham.

- Goodnight, My Lord.

- Good night, Mrs. Dawson.

- Just Dawson, your Lordship.

It sure don't-it doesn't

seem very polite.

The Earl has no idea

what he's taking from me.

How... difficult it is for me

to part with Ceddie.

This is scarcely a parting.

Think of it as no more than

your son going off to a nearby school.

We both know better, Mr. Havisham.

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