Chapter 3　Leaving Home

Cedric's good opinion of the advantages of being an earl increased greatly during the next week. It seemed almost impossible for him to realize that there was scarcely anything he might wish to do which he could not do easily; in fact, I think it may be said that he did not fully realize it at all. But at least he understand, after a few conversations with Mr. Havisham, that he could gratify all his nearest wishes, and he proceeded to gratify them with a simplicity and delight which caused Mr. Havisham much diversion. In the week before they sailed for England he did many curious things. The lawyer long after remembered the morning they went down-town together to pay a visit to Dick, and the afternoon they so amazed the apple-woman of ancient lineage by stopping before her stall and telling her she was to have a tent, and a stove, and a shawl, and a sum of money which seemed to her quite wonderful.

For I have to go to England and be a lord, explained Cedric, sweettemperedly. "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."

Dick winked his eyes also, and yet they looked rather moist about the lashes. He was not an educated boot-black, and he would have found it difficult to tell what he felt just then if he had tried; perhaps that was why he didn't try, and only winked his eyes and swallowed a lump in his throat.

I wish ye wasn't goin' away, he said in a husky voice. Then he winked his eyes again. Then he looked at Mr. Havisham, and touched his cap. "Thanky, sir, fur bringin' him down here an' fur wot ye've done, He's—he's a queer little feller," he added. "I've allers thort a heap of him. He's such a game little feller, an'—an' such a queer little un."

And when they turned away he stood and looked after them in a dazed kind of way, and there was still a mist in his eyes, and a lump in his throat, as he watched the gallant little figure marching gayly along by the side of its tall, rigid escort.

Until the day of his departure, his lordship spent as much time as possible with Mr. Hobbs in the store. Gloom had settled upon Mr. Hobbs; he was much depressed in spirits. When his young friend brought to him in triumph the parting gift of a gold watch and chain, Mr. Hobbs found it difficult to acknowledge it properly. He laid the case on his stout knee, and blew his nose violently several times.

There's something written on it, said Cedric,—"inside the case. I told the man myself what to say. 'From his oldest friend, Lord Fauntleroy, to Mr. Hobbs. When this you see, remember me.' I don't want you to forget me."

Mr. Hobbs blew his nose very loudly again.

I sha'n't forget you, he said, speaking a trifle huskily, as Dick had spoken; "nor don't you go and forget me when you get among the British arrystocracy."

I shouldn't forget you, whoever I was among, answered his lordship. "I've spent my happiest hours with you; at least, some of my happiest hours. I hope you'll come to see me sometime. I'm sure my grandpapa would be very much pleased. Perhaps he'll write and ask you, when I tell him about you. You—you wouldn't mind his being an earl, would you, I mean you wouldn't stay away just because he was one, if he invited you to come?"

I'd come to see you, replied Mr. Hobbs, graciously.

So it seemed to be agreed that if he received a pressing invitation from the Earl to come and spend a few months at Dorincourt Castle, he was to lay aside his republican prejudices and pack his valise at once.

At last all the preparations were complete; the day came when the trunks were taken to the steamer, and the hour arrived when the carriage stood at the door. Then a curious feeling of loneliness came upon the little boy. His mamma had been shut up in her room for some time; when she came down the stairs, her eyes looked large and wet, and her sweet mouth was trembling. Cedric went to her, and she bent down to him, and he put his arms around her, and they kissed each other. He knew something made them both sorry, though he scarcely knew what it was; but one tender little thought rose to his lips.

We liked this little house, Dearest, didn't we? he said. "We always will like it, won't we?"

Yes—yes, she answered, in a low, sweet voice. "Yes, darling."

And then they went into the carriage and Cedric sat very close to her, and as she looked back out of the window, he looked at her and stroked her hand and held it close.

And then, it seemed almost directly, they were on the steamer in the midst of the wildest bustle and confusion; carriages were driving down and leaving passengers; passengers were getting into a state of excitement about baggage which had not arrived and threatened to be too late; big trunks and cases were being bumped down and dragged about; sailors were uncoiling ropes and hurrying to and fro; officers were giving orders; ladies and gentlemen and children and nurses were coming on board,—some were laughing and looked gay, some were silent and sad, here and there two or three were crying and touching their eyes with their handkerchiefs. Cedric found something to interest him on every side; he looked at the piles of rope, at the furled sails, at the tall, tall masts which seemed almost to touch the hot blue sky; he began to make plans for conversing with the sailors and gaining some information on the subject of pirates.

It was just at the very last, when he was standing leaning on the railing of the upper deck and watching the final preparations, enjoying the excitement and the shouts of the sailors and wharfmen, that his attention was called to a slight bustle in one of the groups not far from him. Some one was hurriedly forcing his way through this group and coming toward him. It was a boy, with something red in his hand. It was Dick. He came up to Cedric quite breathless.

I've run all the way, he said. "I've come down to see ye off. Trade's been prime! I bought this for ye out o' what I made yesterday. Ye kin wear it when ye get among the swells. I lost the paper when I was tryin' to get through them fellers downstairs. They didn't want to let me up. It's a hankercher."

He poured it all forth as if in one sentence. A bell rang, and he made a leap away before Cedric had time to speak.

Good-bye! he panted. "Wear it when ye get among the swells." And he darted off and was gone.

A few seconds later they saw him struggle through the crowd on the lower deck, and rush on shore just before the gang-plank was drawn in. He stood on the wharf and waved his cap.

Cedric held the handkerchief in his hand. It was of bright red silk ornamented with purple horseshoes and horses' heads. There was a great straining and creaking and confusion.

The people on the wharf began to shout to their friends, and the people on the steamer shouted back:

Good-bye! Good-bye! Good-bye, old fellow! Every one seemed to be saying, "Don't forget us. Write when you get to Liverpool. Good-bye! Good-bye!"

Little Lord Fauntleroy leaned forward and waved the red handkerchief.

Good-bye, Dick! he shouted, lustily. "Thank you! Good-bye, Dick!"

And the big steamer moved away, and the people cheered again, and Cedric's mother drew the veil over her eyes, and on the shore there was left great confusion; but Dick saw nothing save that bright, childish face and the bright hair that the sun shone on and the breeze lifted, and he heard nothing but the hearty childish voice calling "Good-bye, Dick!" as little Lord Fauntleroy steamed slowly away from the home of his birth to the unknown land of his ancestors.

第三章　离家

在接下来的一个礼拜里，塞德里克对于做伯爵的好处越想越多，越想越好。在乘船去英国前的那个礼拜里，他干了许多古怪的事儿。很久以后，老律师还能记得，有天上午他们一起进城去看望迪克；有天下午，他们给了那个卖苹果的老太太一个大惊喜，他们在她的摊子前停下来，告诉她，她将拥有一顶帐篷，一个炉子，一条围巾，还有一笔钱。对老太太来说，这简直是太美妙了。

“因为我得去英国，去当勋爵。”塞德里克态度温和地解释道，“而我不想在每次下雨的时候，让你的骨头发痛，这让我心里难受。我自己的骨头从未伤痛过，所以，我想我不知道一个人的骨头疼起来会有多厉害，但是，我很同情你，也希望你好起来。”

“她是一个很好的老奶奶。”塞德里克对哈维沙姆先生说。他们离开了苹果摊子，留下那气喘吁吁的老太太。她一点儿也不相信自己的红运。“有一回，当我摔倒了，磕伤了膝盖时，她白送了我一个苹果。为此，我一直记着呢。你知道，谁对你好，你就会一直记着他。”塞德里克那颗小小的心灵诚实而单纯，从来没有想过有人会忘恩负义。

跟迪克的面谈很激动人心。正好杰克给迪克惹了许多麻烦，所以当他们去看迪克时，迪克情绪很低落。当塞德里克平静地宣称，他们来是为了给他一样东西，这东西在他看来似乎是非常重要的，而且能消除他所有的烦恼时，这几乎使他惊讶得目瞪口呆。小方特勒罗伊勋爵宣称他来访的目的时，神态非常单纯、平常。哈维沙姆先生站在一旁听着，这种直截了当的做法给他留下了很深的印象。迪克听说老朋友已经变成了勋爵，而且如果他年寿足够长的话，就有可能当上伯爵时，他吃惊不小，眼睛和嘴巴都张得大大的，帽子都从头上掉了下来。当他弯腰去拾时，他发出了奇异的惊叹，这使哈维沙姆先生觉得很奇怪，而塞德里克则以前就听到过迪克的惊叹。

“很抱歉！”他说，“你刚才告诉我们什么来着？”这话使小勋爵微微有点难堪，但是他使自己表现出了勇敢。

“一开始，所有的人都认为这不是真的，”他说，“霍布斯先生以为我中暑了呢。一开始我自己也不太喜欢，但现在已经习惯了，也就比较喜欢了。现在的伯爵——我的祖父，他让我喜欢什么就做什么。他还让哈维沙姆先生给我带来了许多钱，我给你带来了一些，你可以用这钱让杰克滚蛋。”

事情的结果是，迪克真的出钱支走了杰克，自己一个人拥有了摊位，拥有了那些新的鞋刷子以及整套工具，还得到了一张让人惊喜万分的营业执照。和那个有古老世系的卖苹果的老太太一样，他也难以相信自己的好运。他走来走去，就像是在梦中；他盯着眼前这位幼小的恩人，觉得自己可能随时会醒过来。直到塞德里克在离开之前，伸出手来，跟他握别，他似乎才勉强意识到了什么。

“那么，再见。”尽管塞德里克力图稳住自己说话的声音，但还是有点儿颤抖。他眨巴着他那双褐色的大眼睛说：“我希望你的生意好。很抱歉，我要走了，咱俩得分开了，但是也许当我成为伯爵的时候，我会再来。我希望你能给我写信，因为咱俩一直是好朋友。如果你给我写信，这儿是通信地址，你可得写清楚了。”他把一张小纸条交给了迪克。“我的名字再也不是塞德里克·埃罗尔了，而是方特勒罗伊勋爵——再见，迪克。”

迪克也眨巴着眼睛，看上去似乎连眼睫毛都湿润了。他没怎么受过教育，如果他试图说出那时那刻的感觉，他会感到很困难，也许那就是他干脆不做这尝试的原因。他只是眨巴着眼睛，嗓子眼里似乎塞了一块什么东西，哽咽着。

“我希望你别走，”他声音沙哑地说着，又开始眨巴眼睛，然后看着哈维沙姆先生，摸着他的帽子，“谢谢您，先生，谢谢您跟他一起到这儿来，谢谢您所做的一切。他是——他是一个奇怪的小家伙，”他又说道，“我经常牵挂着他。这小家伙胆子很大——还蛮古怪的。”

当他们转身离开的时候，迪克站在那儿，神情恍惚地目送着他们。他的眼里依然有一片湿雾，喉咙里依然有东西哽咽着。他看着那豪爽的小身影高高兴兴地沿着街道走去，随行的哈维沙姆先生显得又高大、又僵硬。

直到起程的那天前，小勋爵尽可能多地待在杂货店里，跟霍布斯先生在一起。阴郁降临到了霍布斯先生的脸上，他的精神很是沮丧。当他那年幼的朋友欢天喜地地给他拿来分别的礼物——金表和金表链，他甚至发现，很难用语言来准确地表示感谢。他把礼盒放在粗壮的膝盖上，有几次重重地抽着鼻子。

“我在上面写了几句话，在盒子里面。”塞德里克说，“我现在就告诉你吧，我写的是：‘老朋友方特勒罗伊勋爵致霍布斯先生，当你看到这些东西时，请记起我。’我要你记得我。”

霍布斯先生又一次非常响亮地抽了抽鼻子。

“我不会忘记你的，”他说，和迪克一样，他的声音也有点儿沙哑，“你也不要一跟英国贵族们在一起就忘了我。”

“不管我跟谁在一起，我都不会忘记你的。”小勋爵答道，“咱俩曾经在一起度过最美好的时光，至少，我感到是最美好的。我希望有朝一日你能来看我，我相信我爷爷也会非常高兴。我把你的情况告诉他后，也许他会写信邀请你呢。你——你不会介意他是一个伯爵，是吗？我的意思是，如果他邀请你来，你不会仅仅因为他是一个伯爵而拒绝吧？”

“我愿意去看你。”霍布斯先生宽厚地答道。

这下两人似乎达成了一致意见，即如果霍布斯先生收到伯爵的紧急邀请信，要他来多林考特城堡住上几个月，他会将他那些共和党的偏见放在一边，立即收拾行囊出发。

最后，所有的准备工作都做好了。那一天终于到来了，行李箱运到了轮船上；那一刻终于到来了，马车停在了门口。这时小男孩感到了一种奇怪的孤独。他妈妈把自己在屋子里关了一段时间。当她下楼的时候，她的眼睛看上去又大又湿，甜美的嘴唇也颤抖着。塞德里克走向她，她向着他弯下腰，他的双臂抱住她，他们亲吻着。他知道有些事情使他们俩都感到难过，尽管他不清楚到底是什么事，但是一个温柔的小小的念头升上他的双唇。

“我们喜欢这所小房子，最最亲爱的，是吗？”他说，“我们会永远喜欢它，是吗？”

“是的——是的，”她答道，声音又低又美，“是的，亲爱的。”

然后他们登上了马车，塞德里克紧挨着妈妈坐下。当她透过车窗回看的时候，他看着她，拍着她的手，并且紧紧握住。

随后，几乎是一眨眼的工夫，他们就到了轮船上，周围是一片狂野的喧闹和混乱：马车驶过来，旅客下车。大家都为行李心急如焚，因为行李还没有到，而且有迟到的危险。大大小小的箱子被乒乒乓乓地卸下来，在地上被拖来拖去；水手松开绳子，到处跑来跑去；官员们在下命令。女人、男人、孩子和他们的保姆来到轮船上——有人高兴地大声笑着，有人悲切地沉默不语。这儿那儿，人们三三两两地哭着，用手帕擦着眼睛。塞德里克到处都能发现让他感兴趣的东西。他看着成捆的绳子，看着翻卷的白帆、高高的桅杆，那桅杆看起来几乎要触及火热的天了。他开始制订计划，要跟水手聊一聊，想得到些关于海盗的信息。

就在轮船起锚的最后一刻，塞德里克站着，靠在上层甲板的栏杆上，观看着客船起航前最后的准备，欣赏着水手们和码头工人们激动的喊叫。离他不远处，有一群人微微地喧闹起来，将他的注意力吸引了过去。有人匆忙地拨开人群，向他走来。这是一个少年，手里拿着一样红色的东西。是迪克，他来到塞德里克跟前，几乎已上气不接下气。

“我一路跑来，”他说，“我来送你。我的生意一直好极了！这是我用昨天挣来的钱买的，你跟大人物在一起的时候，可以带着它。我在下楼穿过人群的时候，丢掉了那张包装纸，他们不让我过来。喏，是块手帕。”

他几乎是一口气把这些话全都说了出来，这时铃响了，他跳着走开了，而塞德里克还没来得及开口说话。

“再见！”他气喘吁吁地说，“你跟大人物在一起的时候，就带上它吧。”他飞快地离开塞德里克，走了。

几秒钟后，他们看见迪克拼命地挤过下层甲板上的人群，就在跳板抽上来之前的一刻，他冲到了岸上，站在码头上，挥舞着帽子。

塞德里克手里拿着手帕，这是一块闪耀着红色光泽的丝帕，装饰着紫色的马掌和马头。

场面紧张、混乱而嘈杂。码头上的人们开始对着朋友们喊话，船上的人们则回喊：

“再见！再见！再见，老伙计！”每个人似乎都在说，“别忘记我们，到利物浦就来信，再见！再见！”

小方特勒罗伊勋爵身子往前倾斜着，挥舞着那块红色的手帕。

“再见，迪克！”他急切地高喊着，“谢谢你！迪克！再见！”

大船离开了码头，人们又开始喊叫。塞德里克的母亲用面纱遮住自己的眼睛。岸上只余下一片混乱。但是除了那光亮的小脸蛋，除了那在太阳的照耀下闪闪发光的头发，那被风吹起的头发，迪克看不见任何东西；除了那发自心底的奶声奶气的呼喊。“再见，迪克！”，迪克听不到任何声音。小方特勒罗伊勋爵乘坐的轮船缓缓地离开了他出生的地方，驶向那片未知的祖先的土地。