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.