You've been a viscount ever since I come into the title, and then
he went on and explained what he wanted cut on his tombstone, and
had my grandfather write it out, so there couldn't be any
mistake. When he'd passed away, my grandfather took the title.
He said it made him feel mighty solemn and grand-like, and it
come over him all at once why it was his father hadn't no heart
fo' work."
"Does it always take 'em that way?" inquired Yancy.
"It takes the Earls of Lambeth that way. I reckon you might say
it was hereditary with 'em. Where was I at?"
"Your grandpap, the second earl," prompted Polly.
"Oh, yes--well, he 'lowed he'd emigrate back to England, but
while he was studying how he could do this, along come the war.
He said he couldn't afford to fight agin his king, so he pulled
out and crossed the mountings to avoid being drug into the army.
He said he couldn't let it get around that the Earls of Lambeth
was shootin' English soldiers."
"Of course he couldn't," agreed Yancy.
"It's been my dream to take Polly and the children and go back to
England and see the king about my title. I 'low he'd be some
surprised to see us. I'd like to tell him, too, what the Earls
of Lambeth done fo' him--that they was always loyal, and thought
a heap better of him than their neighbors done, and mebby some
better than he deserved. Don't you reckon that not hearin' from
us, he's got the notion the Cavendishes has petered out?"
Mr. Yancy considered this likely, and said so.
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