The Prince’s troubles begin
Afterhoursofpersistentpursuitandpersecution,thelittleprincewasatlastdesertedbytherabbleandlefttohimself.Aslongashehadbeenabletorageagainstthemob,andthreatenitroyally,androyallyuttercommandsthatweregoodstufftolaughat,hewasveryentertaining;butwhenwearinessfinallyforcedhimtobesilent,hewasnolongerofusetohistormentors,andtheysoughtamusementelsewhere.Helookedabouthim,now,butcouldnotrecognisethelocality.HewaswithinthecityofLondon—thatwasallheknew.Hemovedon,aimlessly,andinalittlewhilethehousesthinned,andthepassers-bywereinfrequent.HebathedhisbleedingfeetinthebrookwhichflowedthenwhereFarringdonStreetnowis;restedafewmoments,thenpassedon,andpresentlycameuponagreatspacewithonlyafewscatteredhousesinit,andaprodigiouschurch.Herecognisedthischurch.Scaffoldingswereabout,everywhere,andswarmsofworkmen;foritwasundergoingelaboraterepairs.Theprincetookheartatonce—hefeltthathistroubleswereatanend,now.Hesaidtohimself,"ItistheancientGreyFriars’Church,whichthekingmyfatherhathtakenfromthemonksandgivenforahomeforeverforpoorandforsakenchildren,andnew-nameditChrist’sChurch.Rightgladlywilltheyservethesonofhimwhohathdonesogenerouslybythem—andthemorethatthatsonishimselfaspoorandasforlornasanythatbeshelteredherethisday,orevershallbe."
Hewassooninthemidstofacrowdofboyswhowererunning,jumping,playingatballandleap-frog,andotherwisedisportingthemselves,andrightnoisily,too.