9 The Poor Cottages

CHAPTER 9 The Poor Cottages Pride gave the Earl of Dorincourt a new interest in life. He was proud of his grandson's beauty and bravery. And since Cedric was his heir, it made him look good. The whole world had known of his disappointment with his own sons. Now he wanted to show Cedric off to the world. The new Lord Fauntleroy could disappoint no one. Sometimes, in secret, the earl thought back to his life before Cedric had come into it. He

wished he had been a better person. There were some things about the earl that Cedric's pure heart would shrink from, if he knew the truth. For years the earl had been called the "Wicked Earl of Dorincourt." It made him nervous to think that someone might tell Cedric about this. He never wanted the boy to find out. The earl also found that he liked spending time with the boy. Days would go by, and he would forget about his gout. Even the doctor said his health was better than ever expected. One morning, Cedric came by on his pony. He looked up at the window where his grandfather often sat to watch. "I wish you were going with me," he called. "I don't like to leave you all alone in the big castle. It must be so lonely." At that, the earl surprised everyone. He

went to the stables and insisted that the groom prepare his horse. Soon enough, Lord Fauntleroy was riding his pony with a new companion, his grandfather. It was quite a sight. There was the tall, powerful, gray horse carrying the tall, gray old man. And beside it was the little brown pony that carried the little blond boy. The two chatted as they went out riding along the green lanes and the pretty country roads. Cedric talked about a great many things— especially his mother. Gradually, the old man learned a lot about "Dearest" and her life. It didn't displease him to learn that she was quite busy around town. Whenever anybody needed help, she was there. When there was sickness or sorrow or poverty in any house, she went to visit. Some people even visited her at Court Lodge to learn how to sew.

It also didn't displease the earl to find that his son's wife was so pretty. She looked as much like a lady as if she had been a duchess. He liked that she was popular and beloved by the poor. And yet, he sometimes felt jealous when Cedric spoke about her. The boy loved her more than he loved anyone else, and the earl wished that he was the one the boy loved most. One morning as Cedric and the earl were out riding their horses, they came to a high hill where much of the earl's lands could be seen. It was beautiful and spread out in every direction. "Do you know that all this land belongs to me?" the earl asked Cedric. "Does it?" the boy asked. "It's so much land to belong to one person! And it's so pretty!" "Someday it will all belong to you—this

and a great deal more!" "To me!" exclaimed Cedric, shocked. "When?" "When I am dead," said his grandfather. "Then I don't want it," said the boy. "I want you to live always." "That's kind," the earl said. "Even so, one day all this land will be yours. One day, you will be the Earl of Dorincourt."

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