Page 200 [200]
180 vs EZÉ LORD FAUNTLEROY.
“My boy!" he said—and, if you ll believe it, his very voice
was queer, almost shaky and a little broken and hoarse, not at all
what you would expect an Earl's voice to be, though he spoke more
decidedly and peremptorily even than before,— “ Yes, you ‘ll be my
boy as long as I live; and, by George, sometimes I feel as if you
were the only boy | had ever had.”
Cedric’s face turned red to the roots of his hair; it turned red
with relief and pleasure. He put both his hands deep into his
pockets and looked squarely into his noble relatives eyes.
“Do you?” he said. ‘ Well, then, I don’t care about the earl
part at all. I don’t care whether I’m an earl or not. | thought —
you see, I thought the one that was going to be the Earl would
have to be your boy, too, and—and I could n't be. That was what
made me feel so queer.”
The Earl put his hand on his shoulder and drew him nearer.
‘They shall take nothing from you that I can hold for you,” he
said, drawing his breath hard. "(I wont believe yet that they can
take anything from you. You were made for the place, and — well,
you may fill it still. But whatever comes, you shall have all that I
can give you—all!”
It scarcely seemed as if he were speaking to a child, there was
such determination in his face and voice; it was more as if he were
making a promise to himself—and perhaps he was.
He had never before known how deep a hold upon him his
fondness for the boy and his pride in him had taken. He had never
seen his strength and good qualities and beauty as he seemed to see
them now. To his obstinate nature it seemed impossible—more
than impossible—to give up what he had so set his heart upon. And
he had determined that he would not give it up without a fierce
struggle.
Within a few days after she had seen Mr. Havisham, the
woman who claimed to be Lady Fauntleroy presented herself at the