Little Lord Fauntleroy Page #3

My son will only be a visitor

in his mother's house.

Even my house is not mine.

But his grandpa's.

Will you be good enough

to tell Ceddie's grandfather

I will accept no money from him?

Surely, you cannot mean the income

that he proposes to settle on?

I do.

I must accept this house

because it makes it possible

for me to be near my child.

But I will take no money.

If he dislikes me so intensely, I should

feel as if I were selling Ceddie to him.

His Lordship will be very upset.

He will not understand.

I'm very much afraid,

he will have to understand.

I'm a good seamstress.

And intend to earn

what little Mary and I will need.

I will not take money from a man

who hates me, Mr. Havisham.

And who takes my child from me,

for whatever reason.

I don't look forward

to relaying your message.

But I shall, of course.

Is that my grandpa's house?

That's the gatekeeper's lodge.

God bless you, Your Lordship.

Good luck and happiness to you!

To you too.

Now that's what I call a fine hello.

Who is she, Mr. Havisham?

The gatekeeper. The boys are her sons.

Do you think the boys will know

how to play Kick-The-Can?

If they don't,

I'll be glad to show them.

I doubt that you'll

be playing with them.

Why not?

As Lord Fauntleroy,

you have a position to maintain.

Being an aristocrat sure is complicated.

Is this a city park, Mr. Havisham?

This is Dorincourt.

Your grandfather's estate.

- My grandfather owns all this?

- Far more!

- Oh, he's loaded.

- Mmm-hmm.

That's what Mr. Hobbs says.

How far to my grandfather's house now,

Mr. Havisham?

You can see the castle from here.

I'll be jiggered!

Well, shall we get on with it,

Havisham?

Lord Fauntleroy, sir.

So you're my grandson?

Mighty glad to meet you, grandpa.

- Did the trolley run over your foot?

- Trolley?

You have to be mighty careful

getting on and off those trolleys.

Push and shove, the devil's behind you.

Well I've not been run over

by a trolley. I suffer from gout!

Let's see the boy is suitably dressed.

But I'm wearing my best new knickers.

Hardly appropriate for Lord Fauntleroy.

Mr. Hobbs says

clothes don't make the man.

But I'll wear spiffy clothes

if you want me to.

In fact, we are glad to oblige.

It's such a big house.

I guess you won't feel so lonesome

now that I'm here, grandpa.

What makes you think I'm lonesome?

I don't see how not. I know I'd be.

It'd be better if my ma was here.

She'd hardly even be noticed.

Careful.

Dugal has no love for strangers.

I'm not a stranger. I'm your grandson.

At least the boy is no coward.

As you are my grandson,

we'll just have to make the best of it.

That's what I told Mr. Hobbs.

Who is Mr. Hobbs?

He's our grocer.

He and Dick the bootblack

are my very best friends!

Grocers, bootblacks? Hardly society.

I thought a lot about you

while I was on the big trip coming here.

I wondered what you'd look like.

If you'd be like my papa.

Well? Am I?

I don't think so.

You're disappointed?

No, not by a long shot.

Seeing that you're my grandpa,

you'll be nice to me.

- You think I've been nice?

- Sure have!

You gave me money for Dick to buy out

Jake with the terrible profit.

And letting me buy Mr. Hobbs

a genuine gold watch.

I'd call that nice.

Your Lordship instructed me

to satisfy his desires.

And he chose to bestow gifts

on his friends.

If Lord Fauntleroy

would be so good as to give me

a few minutes alone

with his grandfather.

We have some business.

Don't mind one bit.

Lots to look at in here.

Oh my, Dugal.

Come on, boy. Come with me.

Boys and dogs have a natural affinity!

A glass of sherry for Mr. Havisham.

My fool doctor is denying me

such a pleasure.

What do you make of the boy,

Havisham?

- I find him most interesting.

- Clods can be interesting.

He's hardly a clod, my Lord.

Although I daresay

your Lordship will find him somewhat

different from English children.

Impudent lot from what I've heard.

American children.

Outspoken perhaps but not him.

I find him surprisingly mature

for one so young.

You call it maturity.

The Yanks call it precocity.

And I call it impudent.

The American blood will tell.

But I'll deal with it. And him.

After my own fashion.

You said there was something

you wished to discuss with me.

Please get on with it.

I have a message

from your grandson's mother.

I'm not interested in the woman

or her messages.

The less I hear about her, the better.

I'm very much afraid

you'll have to hear this, my Lord.

She refuses to accept

the income we offered.

Refuses? How dare she!

She says because relations

between you are not friendly-

Does she expect friendship?

That sly conniving mercenary American.

One could scarcely call her mercenary,

since she won't even accept

the money you offer.

Done for effect, Havisham.

She hopes to make me

admire her character.

A ploy, Havie!

As the boy's mother,

she has a position to maintain.

And she shall take the money

whether she likes it or not.

Then she will not use it.

It's to be sent to her regardless.

I will not have heard telling the world

that she has to live like a pauper

because I do nothing for her.

My tenants think little enough of me

as it is.

I've got it.

She thinks to poison

the boy's mind against me.

Quite the contrary.

Mrs. Errol asks... no, demands...

nothing be said or done

that would lead Lord Fauntleroy

to understand you had separated him

from his mother

because of your dislike of her.

He loves his mother dearly.

She's convinced this

would alienate him from you.

Come now, Havisham.

Am I to believe she's told him

nothing of my antipathy for her?

Nothing. She wants no shadow

upon that relationship.

She wants the boy to believe you

the most affectionate of grandparents.

I know your intentions toward

the boy are the best, my Lord.

But your grandson's impression of you

will depend largely

on your discretion in this matter.

I must urge you not to speak slightly

of his mother in front of him.

That will cause me no hardship since I

don't intend to speak with her at all.

A glass of sherry.

But you said your doctor-

I have a barbarian

to make into a Dorincourt!!

I need all the sustenance I can get.

Lunch to be served, my Lord.

I'll have my glass at the table.

Join us, Havisham?

Thank you, my Lord.

I'll help grandpa walk.

I'm much stronger than I look.

Just lean on me, grandpa.

I'll make it easy.

The boy's been well prepared

to ingratiate himself.

I doubt that it took

preparation, my Lord.

After all, he is a Dorincourt.

Not yet.

But he will be.

Before I'm through with him.

Just lean on me, grandpa.

I won't let you fall.

I have no intention of falling.

This sure would be a fine place

to play Kick-The-Can.

You wouldn't have to worry

about beer wagons and trolleys.

It's a warm day, isn't it??

I find it downright cruel, if you

don't mind me saying so, ma'am.

I agree.

But we can't help for it, Mellon.

Lord Fauntleroy doesn't know why

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