Knjigice
Fairy tale · Classic fairy tales
Little Lord Fauntleroy
The story of a boy who saw a good man inside a gruff old earl
Also in: Mali lord (Slovenian) · Malý lord (Slovak)
On a New York street there lived a boy called Cedric. Everyone knew him. He helped Mr. Hobbs the grocer stack apples into a tall pyramid, and carried news and bread to Dick, who shined shoes on the corner. "That boy's heart is a loaf," said Hobbs. "He cuts everyone a slice." At home his mother was waiting — he called her simply Dearest.
1
One day a letter came across the sea. "Your boy is no longer only Cedric," it told Dearest. "His grandfather is an old earl, master of a great castle in England, and your son is now a little lord." Cedric looked up at her. "Must I go far away, then?" Dearest held him close. "Yes," she said softly. "And I am coming with you."
2
The parting was hard. Hobbs pressed a gold watch into his hands, so he would know when it was time to write. Dick shook his hand like one man with another. "Don't forget us, little lord," they said. "Never," Cedric promised, and waved from the quay until the street behind the harbour was gone. Then the ship sailed out across the grey sea.
3
The castle was big as a town and cold as a cave. In the great hall the old earl sat before the fire, his sore foot on a stool, his cane in his hand and his brows fearfully drawn. He had firmly decided to dislike this child. Cedric walked straight up, looked him in the eye and said: "What a fine castle you have, Grandfather. And how glad I am to see you."
4
For Cedric never knew that his grandfather was gruff. He was sure the old man was the kindest person alive, and he spoke to him that way. He sat on the stool by his foot and told him all about Hobbs and Dick. The old earl listened, and his frowning brows smoothed themselves out. "Odd," he grumbled. "Nobody ever took me for a good man."
5
Next morning a brown pony with a white blaze stood before the castle. "He is yours," said the earl. Cedric climbed into the saddle and held the mane until he found his balance. When he first galloped down the avenue alone, he shouted: "Grandfather, did you see?" The old earl had seen. And for the first time in years he laughed out loud.
6
In the village the cottages were old and the roofs full of holes. "Grandfather, are you the master there too?" asked Cedric. "I am." — "Then they will surely get new roofs, because you are a good man." The earl muttered something and looked away. Within a week the village smelled of fresh thatch, and everybody praised the old earl.
7
In the village lived a boy who could not walk well. Cedric asked: "Grandfather, may I buy him crutches? In your name." — "Buy them, buy them," grumbled the earl, waving a hand. But when he saw the lad reach his own gate on his own feet, the old gentleman wiped his eyes an uncommonly long time. "Dust," he said. "Nothing but dusty roads."
8
Dearest did not live in the castle. The earl did not like her and would not see her, so she stayed in a little house by the park. Cedric went to her every day. "One day Grandfather will meet you," he told her, "and then he will love you as I do." Dearest stroked his golden curls and said nothing. And every evening the earl asked where he had been.
9
One day a sharp-faced lady in a dark bonnet came to the castle with a sullen boy. "This is the true heir," she said, "not your little lord!" The old earl gripped his cane until his hands went white. The whole castle fell silent. For the first time he thought he might lose what was dearest — and for the first time he knew what that was.
10
Then Hobbs and Dick came over the sea. Dick took one look at the sharp-faced lady and cried: "That is my brother's wife! She ran off with a lie and with the money." The lie crumbled like sand. When all was quiet again, the old earl took his hat and walked alone to the little house by the park. "Madam," he said to Dearest, "come home. Your son has taught me that I am not so bad."
11
For Cedric's birthday long tables were set on the lawn before the castle. The whole village came: the boy with the crutches, Hobbs in his apron and Dick with his brushes. At the head sat the old earl, beside him Dearest, and between them the little lord. "Health to the little lord!" they cheered. And the castle was never cold again.
12The End
