|
The captain marries his sweetheart and gets a job
in America. They live a modest but happy life and a son Cedric, is born to them.
But in a few years time the captain dies leaving them alone. His wife’s
only comfort is her little son Cedric. He is such a loving and intelligent child
that he is a favorite of everybody. The little boy is aware that he has no
father and tries his best to keep his mother happy. He is also a great favorite
of Mr. Hobbs, the grocer. He has many friends most of them poor people like Dick
the shoeblack and the old apple lady. One day when he returns home he finds Mary
waiting for him looking very serious. He is dressed up in his best summer suit and
presented before a thin old gentleman and told that he is the next Lord
Fauntleroy. At first Cedric is not sure if he wants to be an Earl but his
mother explains to him that this is what his father would have wanted had he
been alive. This convinces Cedric and he runs of to tell Mr. Hobbs the news. Mr.
Hobbs who is of the impression that all Earl’s are tyrants is shocked at first
at this sudden news. But when he recovers he is very happy for Cedric. He
promises his friends that he will never forget them and will be in constant
touch with them. Mr. Havisham, the Earl’s lawyer is also much impressed with
Cedric and is glad that he is to be the next Earl.
The old Earl awaits the coming of his grandson
with some amount of apprehension and wonders how the boy and his mother will be
like. Mr. Havisham speaks to Cedric and explains to him that an Earl is a very
powerful and rich man who has a lot of money. On hearing this Cedric says that
it is nice to have a lot of money because with money a great many of his friends
could be helped. Mr. Havisham then explains that the Earl has given orders that
Cedric is to have money to spend on whatever he desires. This is done so that he
looks forward to his new and better life in England. Cedric does not buy
anything for himself but instead chooses to help his friends. So Mr. Havisham is
obliged to give money to all of Cedric’s needy friends including Dick the
shoeshine boy, so that their lives may be a bit easier and better.
Now it is time for Cedric to leave and all his
friends are very sad that he is leaving them. He again promises to keep in touch
and invites them to come and see him in England. Soon he is on the steamer to
England with his mother. On the way she explains to him that they will be
living separately but her house will not be too far from his so he can come and
visit her everyday. He is surprised as to why this is so but thinks it better
not to ask. The journey is a pleasant one and Cedric makes many friends on the
ship. They reach England on the night of the twelfth day of their journey. That
night Cedric spends the night with his mother in the house, which is to be her
new home.
The same night Mr. Havisham goes to visit the
Earl and tells him what a mature, handsome and good- natured grandson he has. He
also tells the Earl that Cedric’s mother has refused the sum, which he
proposed to give her. She has also not told Cedric the reason why she is to live
separately from him. The Earl thinks she is doing this in a bid to win him over
but Mr. Havisham says he feels she is a decent and genuine woman and it is
best not to speak badly of her as the little boy is very attached to her. The
Earl now gets more curious to see his grandson. The next afternoon the little
boy is brought to the castle to meet his grandfather. Cedric is awed by the huge
estate and the grand fairy tale like castle. He speaks kindly to all the
servants and wins their hearts. He is then taken to the library to meet his
grandfather. The grace and confidence with which he introduces himself greatly
pleases the Earl. He is glad in his heart to see that he has such a handsome and
promising heir. Cedric thanks him for being so generous to all his friends back
in America and tells the Earl all about them. The Earl is both amused and
impressed with this little boy who is so unlike other boys of his age. When it
is time to go for dinner Cedric even helps the Earl who suffers from gout to
walk to the table, even though his little body can hardly walk under the great
weight of the Earl. This pleases the Earl and he eats more than usual. During
the conversation that follows, Cedric suddenly remembers his mother and tells
the Earl how she has always been his best friend. The Earl notices that the
little boy’s face has grown sad but he does not cry. They go back to the
library and Cedric tells the Earl more about his mother and even shows him a
picture of her. The old man is astonished at the resemblance between the mother and
son. They speak of other things and within a short while Cedric falls asleep on
the hearthrug.
Click here for part 2
of the summary of Little Lord Fauntleroy |
