Принц и нищий
In Prison
Itdidnotseempossiblethatthiscouldbe,forsurelyhismannersandspeechwouldbetrayhimifhepretendedtobethePrinceofWales—thenhewouldbedrivenout,andsearchmadeforthetrueprince.CoulditbethattheCourthadsetupsomesprigofthenobilityinhisplace?No,forhisunclewouldnotallowthat—hewasall-powerfulandcouldandwouldcrushsuchamovement,ofcourse.Theboy’smusingsprofitedhimnothing;themorehetriedtounriddlethemysterythemoreperplexedhebecame,themorehisheadached,andtheworseheslept.HisimpatiencetogettoLondongrewhourly,andhiscaptivitybecamealmostunendurable.
Hendon’sartsallfailedwiththeKing—hecouldnotbecomforted;butacoupleofwomenwhowerechainednearhimsucceededbetter.Undertheirgentleministrationshefoundpeaceandlearnedadegreeofpatience.Hewasverygrateful,andcametolovethemdearlyandtodelightinthesweetandsoothinginfluenceoftheirpresence.Heaskedthemwhytheywereinprison,andwhentheysaidtheywereBaptists,hesmiled,andinquired—
"Isthatacrimetobeshutupforinaprison?NowIgrieve,forIshallloseye—theywillnotkeepyelongforsuchalittlething."
Theydidnotanswer;andsomethingintheirfacesmadehimuneasy.Hesaid,eagerly—
"Youdonotspeak;begoodtome,andtellme—therewillbenootherpunishment?Pritheetellmethereisnofearofthat."
