Chapter V

           ItwaslateintheafternoonwhenthecarriagecontaininglittleLordFauntleroyandMr.Havishamdroveupthelongavenuewhichledtothecastle.TheEarlhadgivenordersthathisgrandsonshouldarriveintimetodinewithhim;andforsomereasonbestknowntohimself,hehadalsoorderedthatthechildshouldbesentaloneintotheroominwhichheintendedtoreceivehim.Asthecarriagerolleduptheavenue,LordFauntleroysatleaningcomfortablyagainsttheluxuriouscushions,andregardedtheprospectwithgreatinterest.Hewas,infact,interestedineverythinghesaw.Hehadbeeninterestedinthecarriage,withitslarge,splendidhorsesandtheirglitteringharness;hehadbeeninterestedinthetallcoachmanandfootman,withtheirresplendentlivery;andhehadbeenespeciallyinterestedinthecoronetonthepanels,andhadstruckupanacquaintancewiththefootmanforthepurposeofinquiringwhatitmeant.

           Whenthecarriagereachedthegreatgatesofthepark,helookedoutofthewindowtogetagoodviewofthehugestonelionsornamentingtheentrance.Thegateswereopenedbyamotherly,rosy-lookingwoman,whocameoutofapretty,ivy-coveredlodge.Twochildrenranoutofthedoorofthehouseandstoodlookingwithround,wide-openeyesatthelittleboyinthecarriage,wholookedatthemalso.Theirmotherstoodcourtesyingandsmiling,andthechildren,onreceivingasignfromher,madebobbinglittlecourtesiestoo.

           “Doessheknowme?”askedLordFauntleroy.“Ithinkshemustthinksheknowsme.”Andhetookoffhisblackvelvetcaptoherandsmiled.