Принц і жебрак

           Finallytheyhaltedbeforehim,holdingeachother’shandsforprotection,andtookagoodsatisfyingstarewiththeirinnocenteyes;thenoneofthempluckedupallhercourageandinquiredwithhonestdirectness—

           "Whoartthou,boy?"

           "IamtheKing,"wasthegraveanswer.

           Thechildrengavealittlestart,andtheireyesspreadthemselveswideopenandremainedsoduringaspeechlesshalfminute.Thencuriositybrokethesilence—

           "TheKing?WhatKing?"

           "TheKingofEngland."

           Thechildrenlookedateachother—thenathim—thenateachotheragain—wonderingly,perplexedly;thenonesaid—

           "Didsthearhim,Margery?—hesaidheistheKing.Canthatbetrue?"

           "Howcanitbeelsebuttrue,Prissy?Wouldhesayalie?Forlookyou,Prissy,an’itwerenottrue,itwouldbealie.Itsurelywouldbe.Nowthinkon’t.Forallthingsthatbenottrue,belies—thoucanstmakenoughtelseoutofit."

           Itwasagoodtightargument,withoutaleakinitanywhere;anditleftPrissy’shalf-doubtsnotalegtostandon.Sheconsideredamoment,thenputtheKinguponhishonourwiththesimpleremark—

           "IfthouarttrulytheKing,thenIbelievethee."

           "IamtrulytheKing."

           Thissettledthematter.HisMajesty’sroyaltywasacceptedwithoutfurtherquestionordiscussion,andthetwolittlegirlsbeganatoncetoinquireintohowhecametobewherehewas,andhowhecametobesounroyallyclad,andwhitherhewasbound,andallabouthisaffairs.