XI explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Social Class and Aristocracy

  Mr. Hobbs and Dick's discussions about earls, dukes, and the British nobility highlight the theme of social class and the perceived dangers of aristocracy.

• Family and Belonging

  Mr. Hobbs's loneliness and his search for connection with Dick reflect a longing for the companionship and belonging he felt with Cedric.

Characters to notice

• Mr. Hobbs

  Feels lonely and uneasy after Cedric's departure; forms a friendship with Dick and worries about Cedric's safety after reading about Queen Mary.

• Dick

  Becomes friends with Mr. Hobbs; they read and discuss the British aristocracy and historical tales.

• Cedric Errol

  Referenced as the absent friend and Lord Fauntleroy; his kicks on the stool are a poignant reminder for Mr. Hobbs.

Key passages

• “He would put the paper down on his knee after reading it, and sit and stare at the high stool for a long time. There were some marks on the long legs which made him feel quite dejected and melancholy. They were marks made by the heels of the next Earl of Dorincourt, when he kicked and talked at the same time.”

  After reading, Mr. Hobbs would set aside his newspaper and gaze sadly at the stool, whose legs bore scuff marks from Cedric's restless feet.

  Illustrates Mr. Hobbs's deep sense of loss and his sentimental attachment to reminders of Cedric.

• “Why, he ain't safe! He ain't safe! If the women folks can sit up on their thrones an' give the word for things like that to be done, who's to know what's happening to him this very minute?”

  Mr. Hobbs panics, fearing that a powerful queen like Bloody Mary might harm Cedric, showing his ignorance of history and his protective concern.

  Highlights Mr. Hobbs's anxiety and his tendency to conflate historical fiction with present reality.