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08 - Little Lord Fauntleroy by Frances Hodgson Burnett · Little Lord Fauntleroy

• 0:02
  Speaker 1: Lord Dorincourt had occasion to wear his grim smile many
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: a time as the days passed by. Indeed, as his
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: acquaintance with his grandson progressed, he wore the smile so
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: often that there were moments when it almost lost its grimness.
• 0:17
  Speaker 1: There is no denying that before Lord Fauntleroy had appeared
• 0:21
  Speaker 1: on the scene, the old man had been growing very
• 0:23
  Speaker 1: tired of his loneliness, and his gout and his seventy years.
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: After so long a life of excitement and amusement, it
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: was not agreeable to sit alone, even in the most
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: splendid room, with one foot on a gout stool, and
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: with no other diversion than flying into a rage and
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: shouting at a frightened footman who hated the sight of him.
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: The old Earl was too clever a man not to
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: know perfectly well that his servants detested him, and that
• 0:51
  Speaker 1: even if he had visitors, they did not come for
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: love of him. The sum found a sort of amusement
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: in his sharp, sarcastic talk, which spared no one. So
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: long as he had been strong and well, he had
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: gone from one place to another, pretending to amuse himself,
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: though he had not really enjoyed it, and when his
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: health began to fail, he felt tired of everything and
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: shut himself up at Dorincourt with his gout and his
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: newspapers and his books. But he could not read all
• 1:22
  Speaker 1: the time, and he became more and more bored, as
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: he called it. He hated the long nights and days,
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: and he grew more and more savage and irritable. And
• 1:33
  Speaker 1: then Fauntleroy came, and when the Earl saw him, fortunately
• 1:38
  Speaker 1: for the little fellow, the secret pride of the grandfather
• 1:41
  Speaker 1: was gratified at the outset. If Cedric had been a
• 1:45
  Speaker 1: less handsome little fellow, the old man might have taken
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: so strong a dislike to him that he would not
• 1:50
  Speaker 1: have given himself the chance to see his grandson's finer qualities.
• 1:55
  Speaker 1: But he chose to think that Cedric's beauty and fearless
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: spirit were the results of the Dorincourt blood, and a
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: credit to the Dorincourt rank. And then when he heard
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: the lad talk and saw what a well bred little
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: fellow he was, notwithstanding his boyish ignorance of all that
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: his new position meant, the old Earl liked his grandson more,
• 2:16
  Speaker 1: and actually began to find himself rather entertained. It had
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: amused him to give into those childish hands the power
• 2:23
  Speaker 1: to bestow a benefit on poor Higgins. My Lord cared
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: nothing for poor Higgins, but it pleased him a little
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: to think that his grandson would be talked about by
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: the country people and would begin to be popular with
• 2:36
  Speaker 1: the tenantry even in his childhood. Then it had gratified
• 2:41
  Speaker 1: him to drive to church with Cedric and to see
• 2:43
  Speaker 1: the excitement and interest caused by the arrival. He knew
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: how people would speak of the beauty of the little
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: lad of his fine, strong, straight body, of his erect bearing,
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: his handsome face, and his bright hair, and how they
• 2:58
  Speaker 1: would say, as the Earl had heard one woman exclaim
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: to another, that the boy was every inch a lord.
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: My Lord of Dorincourt was an arrogant old man, proud
• 3:10
  Speaker 1: of his name, proud of his rank, and therefore proud
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: to show the world that at last the House of
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: Dorincourt had an heir who was worthy of the position
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: he was to fill. The morning the new pony had
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: been tried, the Earl had been so pleased that he
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: had almost forgotten his gout when the groom had brought
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: out the pretty creature which arched its brown, glossy neck
• 3:33
  Speaker 1: and tossed its fine head in the sun. The Earl
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: had sat at the open window of the library and
• 3:39
  Speaker 1: had looked on while Fauntleroy took his first writing lesson.
• 3:43
  Speaker 1: He wondered if the boy would show signs of timidity.
• 3:46
  Speaker 1: It was not a very small pony, and he had
• 3:49
  Speaker 1: often seen children lose courage in making their first essay
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: at writing. Fauntleroy mounted in great delight. He had never
• 3:58
  Speaker 1: been on a pony before, and he was in the
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: highest spirits. Wilkins, the groom, led the animal by the
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: bridle up and down before the library window. He's a
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: well plucked an, he is, Wilkins remarked in the stable afterward,
• 4:13
  Speaker 1: with many grins. It warn't no trouble to put him up,
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: And an old n wouldn't ha sat any straighter when
• 4:19
  Speaker 1: he were up, he says, says he to me, Wilkins,
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: he said, am I sittin' up straight? They sit up
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: straight at the circus, says he. And I says, as
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: straight as a error, your lordship, And he laughs as
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: pleased as could be, and he says that's right. He says,
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: you tell me if I don't sit up straight, Wilkins.
• 4:44
  Speaker 1: But sitting up straight and being led at a walk
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: were not altogether in completely satisfactory. After a few minutes,
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: Fauntleroy spoke to his grandfather watching him from the window.
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: Can't I go by myself? He asked? And can't I
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: go faster? The boy on fifth Avenue used to trot
• 5:02
  Speaker 1: and canter? Do you think you could trot en canter?
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  Speaker 1: Said the Earl. I should like to try, answered Fauntleroy.
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: His lordship made a sign to Wilkins, who, at the
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: signal brought up his own horse and mounted it and
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: took Fauntleroy's pony by the leading rein. Now, said the Earl,
• 5:23
  Speaker 1: let him trot. The next few minutes were rather exciting
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: to the small equestrian. He found that trotting was not
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: so easy as walking, and the faster the pony trotted,
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: the less easy it was. It Joelt's a good good deal,
• 5:39
  Speaker 1: de doesn't it, he said to Wilkins. Did does it?
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  Speaker 1: Jo you? You? No, my lord, answered Wilkins. You'll get
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: used to it in time. Rise in your stirrups. I'm
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: rising all the time, said Fauntleroy. He is both rising
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: and falling, rather uncomfortably, and with many shakes and bounces.
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: He was out of breath and his face grew red,
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: but he held on with all his might and sat
• 6:08
  Speaker 1: as straight as he could. The Earl could see that
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: from his window. When the writers came back within speaking
• 6:15
  Speaker 1: distance after they had been hidden by the trees a
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: few minutes, Fauntleroy's hat was off, his cheeks were like poppies,
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: and his lips were set, but he was still trotting manfully.
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: Stop a minute, said his grandfather. Where's your hat? Wilkins
• 6:31
  Speaker 1: touched his. It fell off, your lordship, he said, with
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: evident enjoyment. Wouldn't let me stop to pick it up?
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: My lord? Not much afraid, is, he asked the Earl
• 6:44
  Speaker 1: dryly him Your lordship, exclaimed Wilkins. I shouldn't say, as
• 6:50
  Speaker 1: he knowed what it meant. I've taught young gentlemen to
• 6:53
  Speaker 1: ride afore, and I never see one's stick on more
• 6:56
  Speaker 1: determined her tired, said the Earl to Fauntleroy. Want to
• 7:02
  Speaker 1: get off. It jokes you more than you think it will,
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: admitted his young lordship frankly. And it tires you a
• 7:10
  Speaker 1: little too. But I don't want to get off. I
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: want to learn how as soon as I've got my breath,
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: I want to go back for the hat. The cleverest
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: person in the world, if he had undertaken to teach
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: Fauntleroy how to please the old man who watched him,
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: could not have taught him anything which would have succeeded better.
• 7:31
  Speaker 1: As the pony trotted off again toward the avenue, a
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: faint color crept up in the fierce old face, and
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: the eyes under the shaggy brows gleamed with a pleasure
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: such as his lordship had scarcely expected to know again.
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: And he sat and watched quite eagerly until the sound
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: of the horse's hoofs returned. When they did come, which
• 7:51
  Speaker 1: was after some time, they came at a faster pace.
• 7:54
  Speaker 1: Fauntleroy's hat was still off, Wilkins was carrying it for him.
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: His cheeks were red than before, and his hair was
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: flying about his ears, but he came at quite a
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: brisk canter. There he panted. As they drew up. I cantered,
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  Speaker 1: I didn't do it as well as the boy on
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: fifth Avenue, but I did it, and I stayed on.
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: He and Wilkins and the pony were close friends after
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: that scarcely a day passed in which the country people
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: did not see them out together, cantering gaily on the
• 8:28
  Speaker 1: high road or through the green lanes. The children in
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: the cottages would run to the door to look at
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: the proud little brown pony with the gallant little figure
• 8:37
  Speaker 1: sitting so straight in the saddle, and the young lord
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: would snatch off his cap and swing it at them
• 8:42
  Speaker 1: and shout hello, good morning, in a very unlordly manner,
• 8:48
  Speaker 1: though with great heartiness. Sometimes he would stop and talk
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: with the children. And once Wilkins came back to the
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: castle with a story of how Fauntleroy had insisted on
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: dismounting near the village school so that a boy who
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: was lame and tired might ride home on his pony.
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: And I'm blessed, said Wilkins in telling the story at
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: the stables. I'm blessed if he'd hear of anything else.
• 9:13
  Speaker 1: He wouldn't let me get down, because he said the
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: boy mightn't feel comfortable on a big horse, and says
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: he Wilkins says, he that boy's lame, and I'm not,
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  Speaker 1: and I want to talk to him too, And up
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  Speaker 1: the lad has to get and my Lord trudges alongside
• 9:31
  Speaker 1: of him with his hands in his pockets and his
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: cap on the back of his head a whistlin and
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: talkin as easy as you please. And when we come
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: to the cottage and the boy's mother come out all
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: in a taken to see what's up, he whips off
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: his cap and says he, I've brought your son home, ma'am,
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: says he because his leg hurt him, and I don't
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  Speaker 1: think that stick is enough for him to lean on,
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  Speaker 1: and I'm going to ask my grandfather to have a
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: pair of crutches made for him. I'm blessed if the
• 10:01
  Speaker 1: woman wasn't struck all of a heap as well she
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: might be. I thought I should have exploded myself. When
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: the Earl heard the story, he was not angry, as
• 10:13
  Speaker 1: Wilkins had been half afraid that he would be. On
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: the contrary, he laughed outright and called Fauntleroy up to
• 10:20
  Speaker 1: him and made him tell all about the matter, from
• 10:23
  Speaker 1: beginning to end. And then he laughed again. And actually
• 10:27
  Speaker 1: a few days later the Dorincourn carriage stopped in the
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: green lane before the cottage where the lame boy lived,
• 10:33
  Speaker 1: and Fauntleroy jumped out and walked up to the door
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  Speaker 1: carrying a pair of strong, light new crutches shouldered like
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: a gun, and presented them to missus Hardle, the lame
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: boy's name was Hartle, with these words my grandfather's compliments,
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  Speaker 1: and if you please, these are for your boy, and
• 10:52
  Speaker 1: we hope he will get better. I said, your compliments,
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: he explained to the Earl when he returned to the carriage.
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: You didn't tell me to, but I thought perhaps you
• 11:02
  Speaker 1: forgot that was right, wasn't it? And the Earl laughed
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: again and did not say it was not. In fact,
• 11:10
  Speaker 1: the two were becoming more intimate every day, and every
• 11:13
  Speaker 1: day foul Roy's faith in his lordship's benevolence and virtue increased.
• 11:18
  Speaker 1: He had no doubt whatever that his grandfather was the
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: most amiable and generous of elderly gentleman. Certainly, he himself
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: found his wishes gratified almost before they were uttered, and
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: such gifts and pleasures were lavished upon him that he
• 11:33
  Speaker 1: was sometimes almost bewildered by his own possessions. Apparently, he
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: was to have everything he wanted and to do everything
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: he wished to do. And though this certainly would not
• 11:44
  Speaker 1: have been a very wise plan to pursue with all
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: small boys. His young lordship bore it amazingly well. Perhaps
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: notwithstanding his sweet nature, he might have been somewhat spoiled
• 11:55
  Speaker 1: by it if it had not been for the hours
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: he spent with his mother at court law. That best
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: friend of his watched over him, ever closely and tenderly.
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: The two had many long talks together, and he never
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: went back to the castle with her kisses on his
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: cheeks without carrying in his heart some simple, pure words
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: worth remembering. There was one thing, it is true, which
• 12:20
  Speaker 1: puzzled the little fellow very much. He thought over the
• 12:24
  Speaker 1: mystery of it much oftener than anyone supposed. Even his
• 12:28
  Speaker 1: mother did not know how often he pondered on it.
• 12:31
  Speaker 1: The Earl, for a long time, never suspected that he
• 12:34
  Speaker 1: did so at all, but being quick to observe, the
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: little boy could not help wondering why it was that
• 12:40
  Speaker 1: his mother and grandfather never seemed to meet. He had
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: noticed that they never did meet. When the door in
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: court carriage stopped at court Lodge, the Earl never alighted,
• 12:52
  Speaker 1: and on the rare occasions of his lordship's going to church,
• 12:55
  Speaker 1: Fauntleroy was always left to speak to his mother in
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: the porch alone, or perhaps to go home with her.
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: And yet every day fruit and flowers were sent to
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: court lodge from the hot houses at the castle. But
• 13:08
  Speaker 1: the one virtuous action of the earls which had set
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: him upon the pinnacle of perfection in Cedric's eyes, was
• 13:14
  Speaker 1: what he had done soon after that first Sunday, when
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: missus Errol had walked home from church unattended. About a
• 13:21
  Speaker 1: week later, when Cedric was going one day to visit
• 13:23
  Speaker 1: his mother, he found at the door, instead of the
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: large carriage imprancing pear, a pretty little brougham and a
• 13:30
  Speaker 1: handsome bay horse. This is a present from you to
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: your mother, the earl said abruptly. She cannot go walking
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: about the country. She needs a carriage. The man who
• 13:41
  Speaker 1: drives will take charge of it. It is a present
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: from you. Fauntleroy's delight could but feebly express itself. He
• 13:51
  Speaker 1: could scarcely contain himself until he reached the lodge. His
• 13:55
  Speaker 1: mother was gathering roses in the garden. He flung himself
• 13:58
  Speaker 1: out of the little brougham and flew to her dearest.
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: He cried, could you believe it? This is yours? He says,
• 14:06
  Speaker 1: it is a present from me. It is your own
• 14:09
  Speaker 1: carriage to drive everywhere in. He was so happy that
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: she did not know what to say. She could not
• 14:16
  Speaker 1: have borne to spoil his pleasure by refusing to accept
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: the gift, even though it came from the man who
• 14:22
  Speaker 1: chose to consider himself her enemy. She was obliged to
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: step into the carriage, roses and all, and let herself
• 14:29
  Speaker 1: be taken to drive while Fauntleroy told her stories of
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: his grandfather's goodness and amiability. They were such innocent stories
• 14:37
  Speaker 1: that sometimes she could not help laughing a little, And
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: then she would draw her little boy closer to her
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: side and kiss him, feeling glad that he could see
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: only good in the old man who had so few friends.
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: The very next day after that, Fauntleroy wrote to mister Hobbs.
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: He wrote quite a long letter, and after the first
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: copy was written, he brought it to his grandfather to
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: be in because he said, it's so uncertain about the spelling,
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: and if you tell me the mistakes, I'll write it
• 15:08
  Speaker 1: out again. This is what he had written. My dear
• 15:12
  Speaker 1: mister Hobbs, I want to tell you about my grandfather.
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: He is the best earl you ever knew. It is
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: a mistake about earls being tyrants. He is not a
• 15:22
  Speaker 1: tyrant at all. I wish you knew him. You would
• 15:25
  Speaker 1: be good friends. I am sure you would. He has
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: gout in his foot and is a great sufferer, but
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: he is so patient. I love him more every day
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: because no one could help loving an earl like that,
• 15:38
  Speaker 1: who is kind to everyone in this world. I wish
• 15:41
  Speaker 1: you could talk to him. He knows everything in the world.
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: You can ask him any question. But he has never
• 15:47
  Speaker 1: played baseball. He has given me a pony and a cart,
• 15:51
  Speaker 1: and my mamma has a beautiful carriage, and I have
• 15:55
  Speaker 1: three rooms and toys of all kinds. It would surprise you.
• 15:59
  Speaker 1: You would like the castle and the park. It is
• 16:02
  Speaker 1: such a large castle you could lose yourself. Wilkins tells me.
• 16:06
  Speaker 1: Wilkins is my groom. He says. There is a dungeon
• 16:10
  Speaker 1: under the castle. It is so pretty. Everything in the
• 16:12
  Speaker 1: park would surprise you. There are such big trees, and
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: there are deers and rabbits and games flying about in
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: the cover. My grandfather is very rich, but he is
• 16:23
  Speaker 1: not proud and orty as you thought earls always were.
• 16:27
  Speaker 1: I like to be with him the people are so
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: polite and kind. They take off their hats to you,
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: and the women make curtsies and sometimes say God bless you.
• 16:37
  Speaker 1: I can write now, but at first it shook me
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: when I trodd my grandfather let a poor man stay
• 16:44
  Speaker 1: on his farm when he could not pay his rent,
• 16:46
  Speaker 1: and Missus Melan went to take wine and things to
• 16:49
  Speaker 1: his sick children. I should like to see you, and
• 16:52
  Speaker 1: I wish dearest could live at the castle. But I
• 16:55
  Speaker 1: am very happy when I don't miss her too much,
• 16:57
  Speaker 1: and I love my grandfather. Every one does. Please write soon,
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: your affectionate old friend, Cedric Errol. P s. No one
• 17:07
  Speaker 1: is in the dungeon. My grandfather never had any one
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: languishing in there. P s. He is such a good earl.
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: He reminds me of you. He is a universal favorite.
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: Do you miss your mother very much? Asked the Earl
• 17:24
  Speaker 1: when he had finished reading this. Yes, said Faultleroy, I
• 17:28
  Speaker 1: miss her all the time. He went and stood before
• 17:32
  Speaker 1: the Earl and put his hand on his knee, looking
• 17:35
  Speaker 1: up at him. You don't miss her, do you, he said?
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: I don't know her, answered his lordship rather crustily. I
• 17:44
  Speaker 1: know that, said Fauntleroy. And that's what makes me wonder.
• 17:48
  Speaker 1: She told me not to ask you any questions, and
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: and I won't, but sometimes I can't help thinking, you know,
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: and it makes me all puzzled. But I'm not going
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: to ask any questions. And I miss her very much.
• 18:01
  Speaker 1: I go and look out my window to where I
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: see her light shine for me every night through an
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: open place in the trees. It is a long way off,
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: but she puts it in her window as soon as
• 18:11
  Speaker 1: it is dark, and I can see it twinkle far away,
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: and I know what it says. What does it say,
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: asked my lord. It says good night, God keep you
• 18:23
  Speaker 1: all the night, just what she used to say when
• 18:26
  Speaker 1: we were together. Every night she used to say that
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: to me, and every morning she said, God bless you
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: all the day. So you see, I am quite safe
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: all the time. Quite I have no doubt, said his
• 18:40
  Speaker 1: lordship dryly. And he drew down his beetling brows and
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: looked at the little boy so fixedly and so long
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: that Fauntleroy wondered what he could be thinking of. End
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: of chapter eight