Tom as King

           Thenextdaytheforeignambassadorscame,withtheirgorgeoustrains;andTom,thronedinawfulstate,receivedthem.Thesplendoursofthescenedelightedhiseyeandfiredhisimaginationatfirst,buttheaudiencewaslonganddreary,andsoweremostoftheaddresses—wherefore,whatbeganasapleasuregrewintowearinessandhome-sicknessby-and-by.TomsaidthewordswhichHertfordputintohismouthfromtimetotime,andtriedhardtoacquithimselfsatisfactorily,buthewastoonewtosuchthings,andtooillateasetoaccomplishmorethanatolerablesuccess.Helookedsufficientlylikeaking,buthewasillabletofeellikeone.Hewascordiallygladwhentheceremonywasended.

           Thelargerpartofhisdaywas‘wasted’—ashetermedit,inhisownmind—inlabourspertainingtohisroyaloffice.Eventhetwohoursdevotedtocertainprincelypastimesandrecreationswereratheraburdentohimthanotherwise,theyweresofetteredbyrestrictionsandceremoniousobservances.However,hehadaprivatehourwithhiswhipping-boywhichhecountedcleargain,sincehegotbothentertainmentandneedfulinformationoutofit.