Chapter XII

           AveryfewdaysafterthedinnerpartyattheCastle,almosteverybodyinEnglandwhoreadthenewspapersatallknewtheromanticstoryofwhathadhappenedatDorincourt.Itmadeaveryinterestingstorywhenitwastoldwithallthedetails.TherewasthelittleAmericanboywhohadbeenbroughttoEnglandtobeLordFauntleroy,andwhowassaidtobesofineandhandsomealittlefellow,andtohavealreadymadepeoplefondofhim;therewastheoldEarl,hisgrandfather,whowassoproudofhisheir;therewastheprettyyoungmotherwhohadneverbeenforgivenformarryingCaptainErrol;andtherewasthestrangemarriageofBevis,thedeadLordFauntleroy,andthestrangewife,ofwhomnooneknewanything,suddenlyappearingwithherson,andsayingthathewastherealLordFauntleroyandmusthavehisrights.Allthesethingsweretalkedaboutandwrittenabout,andcausedatremendoussensation.AndthentherecametherumorthattheEarlofDorincourtwasnotsatisfiedwiththeturnaffairshadtaken,andwouldperhapscontesttheclaimbylaw,andthemattermightendwithawonderfultrial.

           ThereneverhadbeensuchexcitementbeforeinthecountyinwhichErleborowassituated.Onmarket-days,peoplestoodingroupsandtalkedandwonderedwhatwouldbedone;thefarmers’wivesinvitedoneanothertoteathattheymighttelloneanotheralltheyhadheardandalltheythoughtandalltheythoughtotherpeoplethought.TheyrelatedwonderfulanecdotesabouttheEarl’srageandhisdeterminationnottoacknowledgethenewLordFauntleroy,andhishatredofthewomanwhowastheclaimant’smother.