Принц и нищий
The Prince with the peasants
Hespokeearnestlyandsimplyaboutcourtmatters,andbrokedown,morethanonce,whenspeakingofthelateKing‘hisfather’;butwhenevertheconversationchangedtobasertopics,helostinterestandbecamesilent.
Thewomanwasmightilypuzzled;butshedidnotgiveup.Assheproceededwithhercooking,shesetherselftocontrivingdevicestosurprisetheboyintobetrayinghisrealsecret.Shetalkedaboutcattle—heshowednoconcern;thenaboutsheep—thesameresult:soherguessthathehadbeenashepherdboywasanerror;shetalkedaboutmills;andaboutweavers,tinkers,smiths,tradesandtradesmenofallsorts;andaboutBedlam,andjails,andcharitableretreats:butnomatter,shewasbaffledatallpoints.Notaltogether,either;forshearguedthatshehadnarrowedthethingdowntodomesticservice.Yes,shewassureshewasontherighttrack,now;hemusthavebeenahouseservant.Sosheleduptothat.Buttheresultwasdiscouraging.Thesubjectofsweepingappearedtowearyhim;fire-buildingfailedtostirhim;scrubbingandscouringawokenoenthusiasm.Thegoodwifetouched,withaperishinghope,andratherasamatterofform,uponthesubjectofcooking.Tohersurprise,andhervastdelight,theKing’sfacelightedatonce!Ah,shehadhuntedhimdownatlast,shethought;andshewasrightproud,too,ofthedeviousshrewdnessandtactwhichhadaccomplishedit.
