Принц і жебрак
The Prince and the hermit
Itmadehimshuddertothinkofspendingitinsuchanuncannyplace;sohetriedtohurryfaster,butheonlymadethelessspeed,forhecouldnotnowseewellenoughtochoosehisstepsjudiciously;consequentlyhekepttrippingoverrootsandtanglinghimselfinvinesandbriers.
Andhowgladhewaswhenatlasthecaughttheglimmerofalight!Heapproacheditwarily,stoppingoftentolookabouthimandlisten.Itcamefromanunglazedwindow-openinginashabbylittlehut.Heheardavoice,now,andfeltadispositiontorunandhide;buthechangedhismindatonce,forthisvoicewaspraying,evidently.Heglidedtotheonewindowofthehut,raisedhimselfontiptoe,andstoleaglancewithin.Theroomwassmall;itsfloorwasthenaturalearth,beatenhardbyuse;inacornerwasabedofrushesandaraggedblanketortwo;nearitwasapail,acup,abasin,andtwoorthreepotsandpans;therewasashortbenchandathree-leggedstool;onthehearththeremainsofafaggotfireweresmouldering;beforeashrine,whichwaslightedbyasinglecandle,kneltanagedman,andonanoldwoodenboxathissidelayanopenbookandahumanskull.Themanwasoflarge,bonyframe;hishairandwhiskerswereverylongandsnowywhite;hewasclothedinarobeofsheepskinswhichreachedfromhisnecktohisheels.
"Aholyhermit!"saidtheKingtohimself;"nowamIindeedfortunate."
Thehermitrosefromhisknees;theKingknocked.
