Oldal 56 [56]
36 LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY.
—— ————$— TETT
mother was too gentle to suspect any harm. She thought that per¬
haps this meant that a lonely, unhappy old man, whose children were
dead, wished to be kind to her little boy, and win his love and confi¬
dence. And it pleased her very much to think that Ceddie would
be able to help Bridget. It made her happier to know that the very
first result of the strange fortune which had befallen her little boy
was that he could do kind things for those who needed kindness.
Quite a warm color bloomed on her pretty young face.
“Oh!” she said, "that was very kind of the Earl; Cedric will be
so glad! He has always been fond of Bridget and Michael. They
are quite deserving. I have often wished I had been able to help
them more. Michael is a hard-working man when he is well, but
he has been ill a long time and needs expensive medicines and warm
clothing and nourishing food. He and Bridget will not be wasteful
of what is given them."
Mr. Havisham put his thin hand in his breast pocket and drew
forth a large pocket-book. [here was a queer look in his keen face.
The truth was, he was wondering what the Earl of Dorinccurt would
say when he was told what was the first wish of his grandson that
had been granted. He wondered what the cross, worldly, selfish old
nobleman would think cf it.
“1 do not know that you have realized,” he said, "that the Earl
of Dorincourt is an éxceedingly rich man. He can afford to gratify
any caprice. I think it would please him to know that Lord Faunt¬
leroy had been indulged in any fancy. If you will call him back and
allow me, I shall give him five pounds for these people.”
“That would be twenty-five dollars!” exclaimed Mrs. Errol. "It
will seem like wealth to them. “TI can scarcely believe that it is true.”
‘It is quite true,” said Mr. Havisham, with his dry smile. “A
great change has taken place in your son’s life, a great deal of power
will lie in his hands.”