Принц и нищий
Tom’s first royal dinner.
These‘vagaries’weresoononexhibitionbeforethem;buttheyonlymovedtheircompassionandtheirsorrow,nottheirmirth.Itwasaheavyafflictiontothemtoseethebelovedprincesostricken.
PoorTomatewithhisfingersmainly;butnoonesmiledatit,orevenseemedtoobserveit.Heinspectedhisnapkincuriously,andwithdeepinterest,foritwasofaverydaintyandbeautifulfabric,thensaidwithsimplicity—
"Prithee,takeitaway,lestinmineunheedfulnessitbesoiled."
TheHereditaryDiaperertookitawaywithreverentmanner,andwithoutwordorprotestofanysort.
Tomexaminedtheturnipsandthelettucewithinterest,andaskedwhattheywere,andiftheyweretobeeaten;foritwasonlyrecentlythatmenhadbeguntoraisethesethingsinEnglandinplaceofimportingthemasluxuriesfromHolland.Hisquestionwasansweredwithgraverespect,andnosurprisemanifested.Whenhehadfinishedhisdessert,hefilledhispocketswithnuts;butnobodyappearedtobeawareofit,ordisturbedbyit.Butthenextmomenthewashimselfdisturbedbyit,andshoweddiscomposure;forthiswastheonlyservicehehadbeenpermittedtodowithhisownhandsduringthemeal,andhedidnotdoubtthathehaddoneamostimproperandunprincelything.Atthatmomentthemusclesofhisnosebegantotwitch,andtheendofthatorgantoliftandwrinkle.Thiscontinued,andTombegantoevinceagrowingdistress.Helookedappealingly,firstatoneandthenanotherofthelordsabouthim,andtearscameintohiseyes.Theysprangforwardwithdismayintheirfaces,andbeggedtoknowhistrouble.Tomsaidwithgenuineanguish—
