Принц и нищий
Coronation Day
Aboutnine,thecloudssuddenlybreakawayandashaftofsunshinecleavesthemellowatmosphere,anddriftsslowlyalongtheranksofladies;andeveryrankittouchesflamesintoadazzlingsplendourofmany-colouredfires,andwetingletoourfinger-tipswiththeelectricthrillthatisshotthroughusbythesurpriseandthebeautyofthespectacle!PresentlyaspecialenvoyfromsomedistantcorneroftheOrient,marchingwiththegeneralbodyofforeignambassadors,crossesthisbarofsunshine,andwecatchourbreath,theglorythatstreamsandflashesandpalpitatesabouthimissooverpowering;forheiscrustedfromheadtoheelwithgems,andhisslightestmovementshowersadancingradianceallaroundhim.
Letuschangethetenseforconvenience.Thetimedriftedalong—onehour—twohours—twohoursandahalf;thenthedeepboomingofartillerytoldthattheKingandhisgrandprocessionhadarrivedatlast;sothewaitingmultituderejoiced.Allknewthatafurtherdelaymustfollow,fortheKingmustbepreparedandrobedforthesolemnceremony;butthisdelaywouldbepleasantlyoccupiedbytheassemblingofthepeersoftherealmintheirstatelyrobes.Thesewereconductedceremoniouslytotheirseats,andtheircoronetsplacedconvenientlyathand;andmeanwhilethemultitudeinthegallerieswerealivewithinterest,formostofthemwerebeholdingforthefirsttime,dukes,earls,andbarons,whosenameshadbeenhistoricalforfivehundredyears.
