Принц и нищий
Tom receives instructions
Wherefore,atlast,whentheladies’visitwasdrawingtoacloseandtheLordGuilfordDudleywasannounced,theynotonlyfeltthattheirchargehadbeensufficientlytaxedforthepresent,butalsothattheythemselveswerenotinthebestconditiontotaketheirshipbackandmaketheiranxiousvoyagealloveragain.SotheyrespectfullyadvisedTomtoexcusehimself,whichhewasverygladtodo,althoughaslightshadeofdisappointmentmighthavebeenobserveduponmyLadyJane’sfacewhensheheardthesplendidstriplingdeniedadmittance.
Therewasapausenow,asortofwaitingsilencewhichTomcouldnotunderstand.HeglancedatLordHertford,whogavehimasign—buthefailedtounderstandthatalso.ThereadyElizabethcametotherescuewithherusualeasygrace.Shemadereverenceandsaid—
"Haveweleaveoftheprince’sgracemybrothertogo?"
Tomsaid—
"Indeedyourladyshipscanhavewhatsoeverofmetheywill,fortheasking;yetwouldIrathergivethemanyotherthingthatinmypoorpowerlieth,thanleavetotakethelightandblessingoftheirpresencehence.Giveyegoodden,andGodbewithye!"Thenhesmiledinwardlyatthethought,"‘TisnotfornoughtIhavedweltbutamongprincesinmyreading,andtaughtmytonguesomeslighttrickoftheirbroideredandgraciousspeechwithal!"
Whentheillustriousmaidensweregone,Tomturnedwearilytohiskeepersandsaid—
"Mayitpleaseyourlordshipstograntmeleavetogointosomecornerandrestme?"
LordHertfordsaid—
