Frances Burnett - Little Lord Fauntleroy

It was late in the afternoon when the carriage containing little Lord Fauntleroy and Mr Havisham drove up the long avenue which led to the Castle. The Earl had given orders that his grandson should arrive in time to dine with him, and for some reason best known to himself he had also ordered that the child should be sent alone into the room in which he intended to receive him. As the carriage rolled up the avenue, Lord Fauntleroy sat leaning comfortably against the luxurious cushions, and regarded the prospect with great interest. He was, in fact, interested in everything he saw. He had been interested in the carriage, with its large, splendid horses and their glittering harness; he had been interested in the tall coachman and footman, with their resplendent livery; and he had been especially interested in the coronet on the panels, and had struck up an acquaintance with the footman for the purpose of inquiring what it meant.

When the carriage reached the great gates of the park, he looked out of the window to get a good view of the huge stone lions ornamenting the entrance. The gates were opened by a motherly, rosy-looking woman, who came out of a pretty ivy-covered lodge. Two children ran out of the house and stood looking with round wide-open eyes at the little boy in the carriage, who looked at them also. Their mother stood curtsying and smiling, and the children, on receiving a sign from her, made bobbing little curtsies too.

‘Does she know me?’ asked Lord Fauntleroy. ‘I think she must think she knows me.’ And he took off his black velvet cap to her and smiled.

‘How do you do?’ he said brightly. ‘Good afternoon!’

The woman seemed pleased, he thought. The smile broadened on her rosy face and a kind look came into her blue eyes.

‘God bless your lordship!’ she said. ‘God bless your pretty face! Good luck and happiness to your lordship! Welcome to you!’

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