Chapter IV
ItwasduringthevoyagethatCedric’smothertoldhimthathishomewasnottobehers;andwhenhefirstunderstoodit,hisgriefwassogreatthatMr.HavishamsawthattheEarlhadbeenwiseinmakingthearrangementsthathismothershouldbequitenearhim,andseehimoften;foritwasveryplainhecouldnothavebornetheseparationotherwise.Buthismothermanagedthelittlefellowsosweetlyandlovingly,andmadehimfeelthatshewouldbesonearhim,that,afterawhile,heceasedtobeoppressedbythefearofanyrealparting.
“MyhouseisnotfarfromtheCastle,Ceddie,”sherepeatedeachtimethesubjectwasreferredto—“averylittlewayfromyours,andyoucanalwaysruninandseemeeveryday,andyouwillhavesomanythingstotellme!andweshallbesohappytogether!Itisabeautifulplace.Yourpapahasoftentoldmeaboutit.Heloveditverymuch;andyouwillloveittoo.”
“Ishouldloveitbetterifyouwerethere,”hissmalllordshipsaid,withaheavylittlesigh.
Hecouldnotbutfeelpuzzledbysostrangeastateofaffairs,whichcouldputhis“Dearest”inonehouseandhimselfinanother.
ThefactwasthatMrs.Errolhadthoughtitbetternottotellhimwhythisplanhadbeenmade.
“Ishouldpreferheshouldnotbetold,”shesaidtoMr.Havisham.“Hewouldnotreallyunderstand;hewouldonlybeshockedandhurt;andIfeelsurethathisfeelingfortheEarlwillbeamorenaturalandaffectionateoneifhedoesnotknowthathisgrandfatherdislikesmesobitterly.