Принц и нищий
The Prince with the Tramps
Hewasagladmonarch,now,thoughtheblanketswereoldandthin,andnotquitewarmenough;andbesidesgaveoutapungenthorseyodourthatwasalmostsuffocatinglypowerful.
AlthoughtheKingwashungryandchilly,hewasalsosotiredandsodrowsythattheselatterinfluencessoonbegantogettheadvantageoftheformer,andhepresentlydozedoffintoastateofsemi-consciousness.Then,justashewasonthepointoflosinghimselfwholly,hedistinctlyfeltsomethingtouchhim!Hewasbroadawakeinamoment,andgaspingforbreath.Thecoldhorrorofthatmysterioustouchinthedarkalmostmadehisheartstandstill.Helaymotionless,andlistened,scarcelybreathing.Butnothingstirred,andtherewasnosound.Hecontinuedtolisten,andwait,duringwhatseemedalongtime,butstillnothingstirred,andtherewasnosound.Sohebegantodropintoadrowseoncemore,atlast;andallatoncehefeltthatmysterioustouchagain!Itwasagrislything,thislighttouchfromthisnoiselessandinvisiblepresence;itmadetheboysickwithghostlyfears.Whatshouldhedo?Thatwasthequestion;buthedidnotknowhowtoanswerit.Shouldheleavethesereasonablycomfortablequartersandflyfromthisinscrutablehorror?Butflywhither?Hecouldnotgetoutofthebarn;andtheideaofscurryingblindlyhitherandthitherinthedark,withinthecaptivityofthefourwalls,withthisphantomglidingafterhim,andvisitinghimwiththatsofthideoustouchuponcheekorshoulderateveryturn,wasintolerable.
