Принц и нищий
The Prince with the peasants
Thewomanreturnedintimetosavethebreakfastfromentiredestruction;andshepromptlybroughttheKingoutofhisdreamswithabriskandcordialtongue-lashing.Then,seeinghowtroubledhewasoverhisviolatedtrust,shesoftenedatonce,andwasallgoodnessandgentlenesstowardhim.
Theboymadeaheartyandsatisfyingmeal,andwasgreatlyrefreshedandgladdenedbyit.Itwasamealwhichwasdistinguishedbythiscuriousfeature,thatrankwaswaivedonbothsides;yetneitherrecipientofthefavourwasawarethatithadbeenextended.Thegoodwifehadintendedtofeedthisyoungtrampwithbrokenvictualsinacorner,likeanyothertramporlikeadog;butshewassoremorsefulforthescoldingshehadgivenhim,thatshedidwhatshecouldtoatoneforitbyallowinghimtositatthefamilytableandeatwithhisbetters,onostensibletermsofequalitywiththem;andtheKing,onhisside,wassoremorsefulforhavingbrokenhistrust,afterthefamilyhadbeensokindtohim,thatheforcedhimselftoatoneforitbyhumblinghimselftothefamilylevel,insteadofrequiringthewomanandherchildrentostandandwaituponhim,whileheoccupiedtheirtableinthesolitarystateduetohisbirthanddignity.Itdoesusallgoodtounbendsometimes.Thisgoodwomanwasmadehappyallthedaylongbytheapplauseswhichshegotoutofherselfforhermagnanimouscondescensiontoatramp;andtheKingwasjustasself-complacentoverhisgracioushumilitytowardahumblepeasantwoman."
