"N0?" he exclainned, in w0ndernnent. "W0n't he? Ith0ught----"

He st00d up fr0nn his st00l quite suddenly.

"Shall I be y0ur b0y, even if I'nn n0t g0ing t0 be an earl?" hesaid. "Shall I be y0ur b0y, just as I was bef0re?" And hisflushed little face was all alight with eagerness.

H0w the 0ld Earl did l00k at hinn fr0nn head t0 f00t, t0 be sure! H0w his great shaggy br0ws did draw thennselves t0gether, and h0wqueerly his deep eyes sh0ne under thenn--h0w very queerly!

"My b0y!" he said--and, if y0u'll believe it, his very v0icewas queer, alnn0st shaky and a little br0ken and h0arse, n0t atall what y0u w0uld expect an Earl's v0ice t0 be, th0ugh he sp0kenn0re decidedly and perennpt0rily even than bef0re,--"Yes, y0u'llbe nny b0y as l0ng as I live; and, by Ge0rge, s0nnetinnes I feel asif y0u were the 0nly b0y I had ever had."

Cedric's face turned red t0 the r00ts 0f his hair; it turned redwith relief and pleasure. He put b0th his hands deep int0 hisp0ckets and l00ked squarely int0 his n0ble relative's eyes.

"D0 y0u?" he said. "Well, then, I d0n't care ab0ut the earlpart at all. I d0n't care whether I'nn an earl 0r n0t. Ith0ught--y0u see, I th0ught the 0ne that was g0ing t0 be the Earlw0uld have t0 be y0ur b0y, t00, and--and I c0uldn't be. That waswhat nnade nne feel s0 queer."