Chapter 15 His Eighth Birthday Ben took his boy and went back to his cattle ranch in California.
He left with a big surprise.
The Earl of Dorincourt said he wished to do something for the boy who might have been Lord Fauntleroy.
So he decided to invest in a cattle ranch of his own, as long as Ben Tipton would run it.
And so Ben became the master of a ranch, and his son Tom, grew up into a fine young man who loved his father.
But Dick and Mr. Hobbs did not return to America for some time.
The earl decided to provide for Dick and give him a good, solid education, and so Dick was sent away to school.
And Mr Hobbs, after spending time with Cedric and touring the castle and learning the history of all things that made lords and earls, softened a little on his view about the British royalty itself.
Privately, Mr. Hobbs found that he was not so disgusted with Earls as he used to be.
He ended up staying for a long time at the Dorincourt Arms, visiting his young friend often.
Then, to the great surprise of Cedric and everyone else who knew Mr Hobbs, he decided to stay in England for good.
He sold his shop in New York and opened another one in Earlsborough.
The place became quite popular since people from the castle shopped there all the time.
Finally, the day came when Cedric turned eight years old.
All the lords and ladies were invited to his party, and everyone from the village, too.
What a grand day it was, and how his young lordship enjoyed it.
How beautiful the park looked, filled with people dressed in their colorful best.
Flags were flying from the top of the castle.
So many people were there, under the trees and in the tents and on the lawns.
There were farmers and farmers' wives in their best clothes, and girls and their sweethearts and children chasing one another about, and at the castle there were ladies and gentlemen who had come to see the fun. thrilled at the turn of events.
Cedric was thrilled too.
His dearest was with him and everyone seemed so happy to celebrate his birthday.
The sun shone and the flags fluttered and the games were played and the dances danced.
The people had a toast for his birthday and Cedric stood and smiled.
He bowed, flushing rosy red up to the roots of his bright hair.
Is it because they like me, dearest? he asked Mrs. Errol.
Is it, dearest?
I'm so glad.
And then the earl put a hand on his shoulder and said to him Cedric, tell them that you thank them for their kindness.
Cedric glanced at his mother.
Must I? he said shyly.
His mother nodded and smiled.
So he stood and, with a very brave face, he spoke out in his ringing childish voice.
Thank you so much, he said, and I hope you'll enjoy my birthday because I've enjoyed it so much and I'm very glad I'm going to be an earl.
I didn't think at first I should like it, but now I do, and when I'm an earl I will try to be as good as my grandfather.
People shouted and clapped, and Sidric stepped back with a sigh of relief.
He put his hand into the earl's hand and stood close to him, leaning against his side.
The whole world seemed beautiful to him.
Someone else was just as happy.
An old man who, though he had been rich and noble all his life, had not honestly been very happy before this.
The Earl loved Cedric, and he found that every day he was more and more pleased with the boy's mother.
He liked to hear her gentle voice and see her sweet face.
He liked to watch her when he sat in his armchair.
He saw her with her son and listened as she talked to him.
He heard the loving words she used with her child, words the Earl couldn't recall ever hearing before.
He began to see why the little fellow who had lived on a New York side street and had known grocery men and made friends with shoeshine boys was so well-bred.
No one could be ashamed of him.
It was really a very simple thing, after all.
It was only that the little boy had lived near a kind and gentle heart.
He had been taught to always think kind thoughts and to care for others.
It is a very little thing, perhaps, but it is the best thing of all.
The boy had known nothing of earls and castles.
He had hardly known about grand and splendid things, but he had always been loved because he was kind and loving.
And to be so is like being born.
