Принц і жебрак
The State Dinner
Letthechroniclerspeakagain:—
"FirstcomeGentlemen,Barons,Earls,KnightsoftheGarter,allrichlydressedandbareheaded;nextcomestheChancellor,betweentwo,oneofwhichcarriestheroyalsceptre,theothertheSwordofStateinaredscabbard,studdedwithgoldenfleurs-de-lis,thepointupwards;nextcomestheKinghimself—whom,uponhisappearing,twelvetrumpetsandmanydrumssalutewithagreatburstofwelcome,whilstallinthegalleriesriseintheirplaces,crying‘GodsavetheKing!’Afterhimcomenoblesattachedtohisperson,andonhisrightandleftmarchhisguardofhonour,hisfiftyGentlemenPensioners,withgiltbattle-axes."
Thiswasallfineandpleasant.Tom’spulsebeathigh,andagladlightwasinhiseye.Heborehimselfrightgracefully,andallthemoresobecausehewasnotthinkingofhowhewasdoingit,hismindbeingcharmedandoccupiedwiththeblithesightsandsoundsabouthim—andbesides,nobodycanbeveryungracefulinnicely-fittingbeautifulclothesafterhehasgrownalittleusedtothem—especiallyifheisforthemomentunconsciousofthem.Tomrememberedhisinstructions,andacknowledgedhisgreetingwithaslightinclinationofhisplumedhead,andacourteous"Ithankye,mygoodpeople."
