Принц и нищий

           "Alack,Ihadbelievedtherumourdisproportionedtothetruth;butIfearme‘tisnotso."Hebreathedaheavysigh,andsaidinagentlevoice,"Cometothyfather,child:thouartnotwell."

           Tomwasassistedtohisfeet,andapproachedtheMajestyofEngland,humbleandtrembling.TheKingtookthefrightenedfacebetweenhishands,andgazedearnestlyandlovinglyintoitawhile,asifseekingsomegratefulsignofreturningreasonthere,thenpressedthecurlyheadagainsthisbreast,andpattedittenderly.Presentlyhesaid—

           "Dostnotknowthyfather,child?Breaknotmineoldheart;saythouknow’stme.Thoudostknowme,dostthounot?"

           "Yea:thouartmydreadlordtheKing,whomGodpreserve!"

           "True,true—thatiswell—becomforted,tremblenotso;thereisnoneherewouldhurtthee;thereisnoneherebutlovesthee.Thouartbetternow;thyilldreampasseth—is’tnotso?Thouwiltnotmiscallthyselfagain,astheysaythoudidstalittlewhileagone?"

           "Ipraytheeofthygracebelieveme,Ididbutspeakthetruth,mostdreadlord;forIamthemeanestamongthysubjects,beingapauperborn,and‘tisbyasoremischanceandaccidentIamhere,albeitIwasthereinnothingblameful.Iambutyoungtodie,andthoucanstsavemewithonelittleword.Ohspeakit,sir!"

           "Die?Talknotso,sweetprince—peace,peace,tothytroubledheart—thoushaltnotdie!"

           Tomdroppeduponhiskneeswithagladcry—