“It’s from him!” he exclaimed. [“That’s the very one it’s from!”]
He forgot his pipe altogether. He went back to his chair quite excited, and took his pocket-knife and opened the envelope.
“I wonder what news there is this time,” he said.
And then he unfolded the letter and read as follows:
“Dorincourt Castle.
“My dear Mr. Hobbs.
“I write this in a great hury becaus i have something [curous] to tell you i know you will be very mutch suprised my dear frend when i tel you. It is all a mistake and i am not a lord and i shall not have to be an earl there is a lady whitch was marid to my uncle bevis who is dead and she has a little boy and he is lord fauntleroy becaus that is the way it is in England and my name is Cedric Errol like it was when I was in New York and all the things will belong to the other boy i thought at first i should have to give him my pony and cart but my grandfarther says i need not my grandfarther is very sorry i am not rich now becaus when your papa is only the youngest son he is not very rich i am going to learn to work so that I can take care of dearest i have been asking Wilkins about grooming horses [preaps] i might be a groom or a coachman. I [thort] i would tell you and Dick [right away] becaus you would be [intrusted] so no more at present with love from
“your old frend
“Cedric Errol (Not lord Fauntleroy).”
Mr. Hobbs fell back in his chair, the letter dropped on his knee, his penknife slipped to the floor, and so did the envelope.
“Well!” he ejaculated, “I am jiggered!”