Принц і жебрак
Tom as King
ThethirddayofTomCanty’skingshipcameandwentmuchastheothershaddone,buttherewasaliftingofhiscloudinoneway—hefeltlessuncomfortablethanatfirst;hewasgettingalittleusedtohiscircumstancesandsurroundings;hischainsstillgalled,butnotallthetime;hefoundthatthepresenceandhomageofthegreatafflictedandembarrassedhimlessandlesssharplywitheveryhourthatdriftedoverhishead.
Butforonesingledread,hecouldhaveseenthefourthdayapproachwithoutseriousdistress—thedininginpublic;itwastobeginthatday.Thereweregreatermattersintheprogramme—foronthatdayhewouldhavetopresideatacouncilwhichwouldtakehisviewsandcommandsconcerningthepolicytobepursuedtowardvariousforeignnationsscatteredfarandnearoverthegreatglobe;onthatday,too,HertfordwouldbeformallychosentothegrandofficeofLordProtector;otherthingsofnotewereappointedforthatfourthday,also;buttoTomtheywereallinsignificantcomparedwiththeordealofdiningallbyhimselfwithamultitudeofcuriouseyesfasteneduponhimandamultitudeofmouthswhisperingcommentsuponhisperformance,—anduponhismistakes,ifheshouldbesounluckyastomakeany.
Still,nothingcouldstopthatfourthday,andsoitcame.ItfoundpoorTomlow-spiritedandabsent-minded,andthismoodcontinued;hecouldnotshakeitoff.Theordinarydutiesofthemorningdraggeduponhishands,andweariedhim.Oncemorehefeltthesenseofcaptivityheavyuponhim.
