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.