Chapter XV
BentookhisboyandwentbacktohiscattleranchinCalifornia,andhereturnedunderverycomfortablecircumstances.Justbeforehisgoing,Mr.HavishamhadaninterviewwithhiminwhichthelawyertoldhimthattheEarlofDorincourtwishedtodosomethingfortheboywhomighthaveturnedouttobeLordFauntleroy,andsohehaddecidedthatitwouldbeagoodplantoinvestinacattleranchofhisown,andputBeninchargeofitontermswhichwouldmakeitpayhimverywell,andwhichwouldlayafoundationforhisson’sfuture.AndsowhenBenwentaway,hewentastheprospectivemasterofaranchwhichwouldbealmostasgoodashisown,andmighteasilybecomehisownintime,asindeeditdidinthecourseofafewyears;andTom,theboy,grewuponitintoafineyoungmanandwasdevotedlyfondofhisfather;andtheyweresosuccessfulandhappythatBenusedtosaythatTommadeuptohimforallthetroubleshehadeverhad.
ButDickandMr.Hobbs—whohadactuallycomeoverwiththeotherstoseethatthingswereproperlylookedafter—didnotreturnforsometime.IthadbeendecidedattheoutsetthattheEarlwouldprovideforDick,andwouldseethathereceivedasolideducation;andMr.Hobbshaddecidedthatashehimselfhadleftareliablesubstituteinchargeofhisstore,hecouldaffordtowaittoseethefestivitieswhichweretocelebrateLordFauntleroy’seighthbirthday.Allthetenantrywereinvited,andthereweretobefeastinganddancingandgamesinthepark,andbonfiresandfire-worksintheevening.
“JustliketheFourthofJuly!”saidLordFauntleroy.