Little Lord Fauntleroy

Having discovered that because of the Earl’s neglect, the village on his estate—Erlesboro—was regarded as the worst village in that region, Mrs. Errol devised to tell Cedric of it, knowing that his good nature will compel him to mention it to his grandfather, who in a desire to please Cedric will agree to any improvements. When, as she predicted, Fauntleroy persuades the Earl to fix Earl’s Court, this deed further burnishes Fauntleroy’s growing reputation.

Fauntleroy remains oblivious to the admiration his charity inspires, thinking that it’s directed at his grandfather, happy as he is in the world of childhood doing the things that little boys of his station do:

Frolicking about in the park; chasing the rabbits to their burrows; lying under the trees on the grass, or on the rug in the library, reading wonderful books and talking to the Earl about them, and then telling the stories again to his mother; writing long letters to Dick and Mr. Hobbs, who responded in characteristic fashion; riding out at his grandfather’s side, or with Wilkins as escort (199).

As Fauntleroy and Dorincourt become best companions—as the boy predicted they would—the Earl’s separation of him from his mother remains a thorn in their relationship.