CHAPTER VI THE EARL'S GRANDSON Cedric's first morning in the castle was a curious one.
As he was waking up, he heard two women talking.
Neither one was dearest.
One woman was telling the other to be careful not to say a word, but about what?
He opened his eyes.
"'Good morning, my lord,' said a gentle voice.
"'Did you sleep well?'
Cedric said he had, but he didn't say how much he had missed Dearest or how.
He wondered how she was doing this morning, waking up in the lodge by herself.
One of the women left to do the housekeeping, but the other woman stayed.
Her name was Dawson.
She was there to take care of him, she explained.
"'Will you get up and let me dress you and have your breakfast in the nursery?'
I learned how to dress myself years ago, Cedric said politely, but thank you for offering.
Dearest taught me I can do it myself, except sometimes I need a little help with the buttons.
At last he was dressed and having his breakfast in the nursery.
He asked Dawson many questions about her life.
He found out that Dawson's husband had been a soldier and had died in battle.
Her son was a sailor and had seen practically the whole world.
Dawson had taken care of little children all her life.
Soon enough they were great friends.
Cedric could see that there was another room next to the nursery and another one next to that.
There were so many rooms in this giant house he could hardly imagine counting them all.
I'm so little to live in such a big castle, don't you think? he asked Dawson.
Oh, you'll like it here soon enough, Dawson told him.
It only feels strange at first.
What feels the strangest is being apart from dearest, Cedric said.
I miss her.
I always had my breakfast with her.
I put the sugar and cream in her tea and I handed her the toast.
But you can see her every day, Dawson assured him.
And you will have so much to tell her once you see the dogs and the horses.
And you haven't even seen what's in the next room.
Cedric couldn't help but be curious.
What's in there, he asked.
You must finish your breakfast first, and then I will show you, Dawson teased.
Cedric ate quickly.
When he was at last finished, Dawson took him to the next room.
The room was filled with the most spectacular toys a boy could imagine.
Cedric had seen such toys, but only in the store windows in New York.
He had never had any of his own to play with.
Whose toys are these?
Cedric asked.
He wondered if he might be able to play with some of them.
Dawson laughed.
Don't you know?
She said.
They're all yours.
But who gave them to me?
Was it my grandfather?
It was, wasn't it?
It had to be.
Yes, it was, Dawson said.
And if you're a good boy, this won't be all he'll give you.
He'll give you anything you want.
Cedric could scarcely imagine such a thing.
The room full of toys was more than enough.
He couldn't wait to tell Dearest all about them.
Did you ever know anyone who had such a kind grandfather?
He asked Dawson, as he found a game board to play with.
Dawson made a strange face.
It seemed like she wanted to say something, but she didn't.
The truth was, Dawson didn't have a high opinion of the earl.
She'd only been working in his house for a short time and already she'd heard the stories about how mean he was to the servants and the people who lived on his land.
From what Dawson had heard, he was not a kind man at all.
But what she and Cedric didn't know was that the Earl had not given his grandson this room full of toys, to be kind.
He wanted the shelves and closets stocked full of amusements.
He wanted the boy to have everything he could hope for, every possible distraction.
Give him what will amuse him, the earl had said.
He will forget his mother soon enough.
That was the plan.
And Cedric was kept amused all morning by his toys and games.
Later in the afternoon, when his grandfather at last sent for him, Cedric came running down the stairs.
He burst into the room with his eyes sparkling and his cheeks flushed.
Thank you so much, he said, for the toys and the games and for everything.
Thank you.
The Earl calmly sat back in his chair.
"'I see you like them,' he said, feeling satisfied.
"'Oh, I do,' Cedric said.
"'I truly do.
And there's one game.
It's like baseball.
You play it with a board, with black and white pegs.
You play it with me.
I'll show you how.'
The Earl didn't play games.
"'I'm afraid I don't know baseball.
It's an American game, isn't it?'
I can show you, Cedric said.
You might like it.
It might help you forget about your foot.
Is it hurting much today?
More than I'd like it to, the Earl said.
Go and get the game.
Cedric raced upstairs and returned with the game board.
Soon.
They were playing the game together and the Earl was surprised to find that he was actually enjoying it.
His grandson had an odd effect on him.
Suddenly they were interrupted by a visitor, Reverend Mordent, of the local church.
It was his duty to pay visits to the Earl, often to ask for help when someone on the Earl's lands was in trouble.
The Earl hated to be bothered by other people's troubles.
If he was in a nasty mood, if his gout was worse than usual, he would yell and send Reverend Mordent off with nothing.
If he was in a less nasty mood, if his foot was feeling all right that day, he might help with a little money.
It all depended on how he felt, and Reverend Morant never knew what to expect.
That day, the Reverend was shocked by what he found.
When he entered the room, the delightful ring of childish laughter greeted him.
There was the Earl in his usual chair, and there beside him was a beautiful little boy leaning on his arm, on the Earl's healthy knee.
They were playing a game as if they were good friends.
Reverend Morant knew all about the Earl's grandson.
Everyone in the town had heard the stories, but he certainly didn't expect that the Earl would be playing with the boy and seeming to enjoy his company.
It was a sight.
When the Earl saw Reverend Mordent in the doorway, his face turned harsh.
In his usual gruff voice, he said, Good day, Mordent.
What is it you want now?
Reverend Mordent took a moment to be properly introduced to the little boy, the new Lord Fauntleroy.
I'm glad to meet you, sir, said Cedric, reaching out to shake Reverend Mordent's hand.
Reverend Mordent couldn't help but smile.
He liked the boy right away, like most people did.
He could tell that the boy had a good heart.
Take a chair, Mordent, the Earl said.
Well, who's in trouble now?
It's Higgins, Mordent explained.
Higgins of Edge Farm.
He has had some terrible luck.
He was ill himself, and his children had scarlet fever, and now his wife is ill.
"'Higgins is having trouble making his rent now.
His landlord is Newick, and I know Newick works for you, managing all the lands.
Newick has told Higgins that he and his family will be out on the street if he doesn't pay.
Higgins begged me to see you about it.
He needs money for medicine and food.
He thinks if you gave him some time to catch up on the rent—'
Ah, they all want that, the Earl snapped.
He had a stormy look on his face.
Cedric, however, was very interested in Higgins.
He wondered how many children there were.
He wondered if the scarlet fever had hurt them very much.
He didn't want Higgins and his family to be out on the street.
He turned to his grandfather.
Oh, how will you help him?
He asked innocently.
The Earl gazed at him in silence.
Help him? he repeated.
Yes, Cedric answered.
Clearly it hadn't occurred to him that his grandfather wouldn't help.
And how would you help? the Earl asked Cedric, if you were able to.
Reverend Morant held his breath.
He realized what a great deal of power this boy might have to do with as he pleased.
If a young boy wasn't good, it might be the worst thing that could happen for everyone.
If I was very rich, said Rick began, and not just a little boy I would talk to Newick and tell him to let Higgins stay, of course,
And I would give Higgins the things he needed for his children.
But then I'm only a boy.
Suddenly his face brightened as an idea came to him.
But you, he said, looking up at his grandfather, you can do anything, can't you?
Humph, said the Earl.
Is that so? but he didn't seem angry.
Yes, said Cedric.
Are you going to write Newick a letter now and ask him to let Higgins stay?
The Earl paused for a moment, then he asked, Can you write?
Yes, Cedric said, but not very well.
Then you write it, his grandfather said.
Me?
Yes, you.
Bring the pen and ink and a sheet of paper from my desk.
Cedric hurried to get the supplies.
Reverend Mordant watched in wonder as the earl spoke and the little boy carefully copied his words onto the paper in his childish handwriting spelling errors and all.
The earl seemed amused by the whole process, even when Cedric insisted on copying the letter over and over again, asking about the words he didn't know how to spell, so that there wouldn't be as many mistakes.
At last, the letter was ready, and Cedric handed it to Reverend Mordent.
The Reverend left Dorincourt Castle, feeling hopeful.
He had never felt such a thing after being there, and it was all thanks to the little boy.
After Reverend Mordent was gone, Cedric went back to his grandfather's side.
May I see dearest now? he asked.
Now? the Earl said.
You haven't even seen the stables yet.
I can see them tomorrow.
I'm sure Dearest is waiting for me.
But I didn't tell you what's in the stables.
It's a pony.
A pony?
Cedric exclaimed.
Whose pony?
Yours, replied the Earl.
Mine, cried the boy.
Mine?
Like all the toys upstairs.
Yes, the Earl said, feeling very satisfied.
Let us go see a pony next.
Cedric drew a long breath.
I want to see it, he said.
I want to see it very much.
But I'm afraid there isn't time.
Dearest is waiting.
Must you go see your mother this afternoon? the earl asked.
Oh, yes, Cedric said.
She has been thinking of me all day, and I have been thinking of her.
Now I can't wait to tell her all about the pony.
So you've been thinking of her, have you? the Earl said.
Fine, let's go.
They rode together to the lodge in a carriage.
Cedric asked many questions about the pony.
He wanted to know what color it was, how big it was, and what it liked to eat, and if it had a name.
As they approached the lodge, Cedric turned to his grandfather and exclaimed You make so many people happy.
Do you know I've counted on my fingers and you've been kind to twenty-seven people?
Twenty-seven!
That's a lot!
And I was the person who was kind to them, was I? said the Earl.
Of course, said Cedric.
They had reached the lodge.
Cedric leaped out of the carriage and then turned back, confused.
The Earl wasn't getting out.
Aren't you coming in to see Dearest?
Cedric asked.
No, his grandfather replied.
Not, not see dearest, Cedric said astonished.
She will be so disappointed.
I doubt that, the earl thought to himself.
He told his footman to close the carriage door and watched as Cedric ran up the path toward the house.
The earl could see the house through the trees.
The door was wide open.
In the doorway stood a slender figure, a pretty young woman dressed all in black.
The little boy ran to his mother, then leaped into her arms and covered her face with kisses.
