The next time Mr. Havisham met him, he had quite a long conversation with him--a conversation which made him smile, and rub his chin with his bony hand several times.
Mrs. Errol had been called out of the parlour, and the lawyer and Cedric were left together.
Mr. Havisham sat in an arm-chair on one side of the open window; on the other side was another still larger chair, and Cedric sat in that and looked at Mr. Havisham. There was a short silence after Mrs. Errol went out, and Cedric seemed to be studying Mr. Havisham, and Mr. Havisham was certainly studying Cedric. He could not make up his mind as to what an elderly gentleman should say to a little boy.
But Cedric relieved him by suddenly beginning the conversation himself.
"Do you know," he said, "I don't know what an earl is?"
"No," replied Ceddie. "And I think when a boy is going to be one, he ought to know. Don't you?"
"Well--yes," answered Mr. Havisham, "An earl is--is a very important person."
"An earl," Mr. Havisham went on, "is frequently of very ancient lineage----"
"Ah!" said Cedric, thrusting his hands deeper into his pockets. "I suppose that is the way with the apple-woman near the park. I dare say she is of ancient lin-lenage. She is so old it would surprise you how she can stand up."
Mr. Havisham felt rather at a loss as he looked at his companion's innocent, serious little face.
"I am afraid you did not quite understand me," he explained. "When I said 'ancient lineage' I did not mean old age; I meant that the name of such a family has been known in the world a long time; perhaps for hundreds of years persons bearing that name have been known and spoken of in the history of their country."
"Like George Washington," said Ceddie. "I've heard of him ever since I was born, and he was known about long before that. Mr. Hobbs says he will never be forgotten. That's because of the Declaration of Independence, you know, and the Fourth of July. You see, he was a very brave man."
"The first Earl of Dorincourt," said Mr. Havisham solemnly, "was created an earl four hundred years ago."
"Well, well!" said Ceddie. "That was a long time ago! Did you tell Dearest that? It would int'rust her very much. She always likes to hear cur'us things. What else does an earl do besides being created?"