Принц и нищий
The Prince in the toils
AsoundingblowuponthePrince’sshoulderfromCanty’sbroadpalmsenthimstaggeringintogoodwifeCanty’sarms,whoclaspedhimtoherbreast,andshelteredhimfromapeltingrainofcuffsandslapsbyinterposingherownperson.Thefrightenedgirlsretreatedtotheircorner;butthegrandmothersteppedeagerlyforwardtoassistherson.ThePrincesprangawayfromMrs.Canty,exclaiming—
"Thoushaltnotsufferforme,madam.Lettheseswinedotheirwilluponmealone."
Thisspeechinfuriatedtheswinetosuchadegreethattheysetabouttheirworkwithoutwasteoftime.Betweenthemtheybelabouredtheboyrightsoundly,andthengavethegirlsandtheirmotherabeatingforshowingsympathyforthevictim.
"Now,"saidCanty,"tobed,allofye.Theentertainmenthastiredme."
Thelightwasputout,andthefamilyretired.Assoonasthesnoringsoftheheadofthehouseandhismothershowedthattheywereasleep,theyounggirlscrepttowherethePrincelay,andcoveredhimtenderlyfromthecoldwithstrawandrags;andtheirmothercrepttohimalso,andstrokedhishair,andcriedoverhim,whisperingbrokenwordsofcomfortandcompassioninhisearthewhile.Shehadsavedamorselforhimtoeat,also;buttheboy’spainshadsweptawayallappetite—atleastforblackandtastelesscrusts.Hewastouchedbyherbraveandcostlydefenceofhim,andbyhercommiseration;andhethankedherinverynobleandprincelywords,andbeggedhertogotohersleepandtrytoforgethersorrows.
