“For I have to go to England and be a lord,” explained Cedric, sweet-temperedly.  “And I shouldn’t like to have your bones on my mind every time it rained.  My own bones never hurt, so I think I don’t know how painful a person’s bones can be, but I’ve sympathized with you a great deal, and I hope you’ll be better.”

“She’s a very good apple-woman,” he said to Mr. Havisham, as they walked away, leaving the proprietress of the stall almost gasping for breath, and not at all believing in her great fortune.  “Once, when I fell down and cut my knee, she gave me an apple for nothing.  I’ve always remembered her for it.  You know you always remember people who are kind to you.”

It had never occurred to his honest, simple little mind that there were people who could forget kindnesses.

The interview with Dick was quite exciting.  Dick had just been having a great deal of trouble with Jake, and was in low spirits when they saw him.  His amazement when Cedric calmly announced that they had come to give him what seemed a very great thing to him, and would set all his troubles right, almost struck him dumb.  Lord Fauntleroy’s manner of announcing the object of his visit was very simple and unceremonious.  Mr. Havisham was much impressed by its directness as he stood by and listened.  The statement that his old friend had become a lord, and was in danger of being an earl if he lived long enough, caused Dick to so open his eyes and mouth, and start, that his cap fell off.  When he picked it up, he uttered a rather singular exclamation.  Mr. Havisham thought it singular, but Cedric had heard it before.

“I soy!” he said, “what’re yer givin’ us?” This plainly embarrassed his lordship a little, but he bore himself bravely.

“Everybody thinks it not true at first,” he said.  “Mr. Hobbs thought I’d had a sunstroke.  I didn’t think I was going to like it myself, but I like it better now I’m used to it.  The one who is the earl now, he’s my grandpapa; and he wants me to do anything I like.  He’s very kind, if he is an earl; and he sent me a lot of money by Mr. Havisham, and I’ve brought some to you to buy Jake out.”

And the end of the matter was that Dick actually bought Jake out, and found himself the possessor of the business and some new brushes and a most astonishing sign and outfit.  He could not believe in his good luck any more easily than the apple-woman of ancient lineage could believe in hers; he walked about like a boot-black in a dream; he stared at his young benefactor and felt as if he might wake up at any moment.  He scarcely seemed to realize anything until Cedric put out his hand to shake hands with him before going away.

“Well, good-bye,” he said; and though he tried to speak steadily, there was a little tremble in his voice and he winked his big brown eyes.  “And I hope trade’ll be good.  I’m sorry I’m going away to leave you, but perhaps I shall come back again when I’m an earl.  And I wish you’d write to me, because we were always good friends.  And if you write to me, here’s where you must send your letter.”  And he gave him a slip of paper.  “And my name isn’t Cedric Errol any more; it’s Lord Fauntleroy and—­and good-bye, Dick.”