Принц и нищий
The Prince with the peasants
Finallytheyhaltedbeforehim,holdingeachother’shandsforprotection,andtookagoodsatisfyingstarewiththeirinnocenteyes;thenoneofthempluckedupallhercourageandinquiredwithhonestdirectness—
"Whoartthou,boy?"
"IamtheKing,"wasthegraveanswer.
Thechildrengavealittlestart,andtheireyesspreadthemselveswideopenandremainedsoduringaspeechlesshalfminute.Thencuriositybrokethesilence—
"TheKing?WhatKing?"
"TheKingofEngland."
Thechildrenlookedateachother—thenathim—thenateachotheragain—wonderingly,perplexedly;thenonesaid—
"Didsthearhim,Margery?—hesaidheistheKing.Canthatbetrue?"
"Howcanitbeelsebuttrue,Prissy?Wouldhesayalie?Forlookyou,Prissy,an’itwerenottrue,itwouldbealie.Itsurelywouldbe.Nowthinkon’t.Forallthingsthatbenottrue,belies—thoucanstmakenoughtelseoutofit."
Itwasagoodtightargument,withoutaleakinitanywhere;anditleftPrissy’shalf-doubtsnotalegtostandon.Sheconsideredamoment,thenputtheKinguponhishonourwiththesimpleremark—
"IfthouarttrulytheKing,thenIbelievethee."
"IamtrulytheKing."
Thissettledthematter.HisMajesty’sroyaltywasacceptedwithoutfurtherquestionordiscussion,andthetwolittlegirlsbeganatoncetoinquireintohowhecametobewherehewas,andhowhecametobesounroyallyclad,andwhitherhewasbound,andallabouthisaffairs.
