Tom as a Patrician

           TomCanty,leftaloneintheprince’scabinet,madegooduseofhisopportunity.Heturnedhimselfthiswayandthatbeforethegreatmirror,admiringhisfinery;thenwalkedaway,imitatingtheprince’shigh-bredcarriage,andstillobservingresultsintheglass.Nexthedrewthebeautifulsword,andbowed,kissingtheblade,andlayingitacrosshisbreast,ashehadseenanobleknightdo,bywayofsalutetothelieutenantoftheTower,fiveorsixweeksbefore,whendeliveringthegreatlordsofNorfolkandSurreyintohishandsforcaptivity.Tomplayedwiththejewelleddaggerthathunguponhisthigh;heexaminedthecostlyandexquisiteornamentsoftheroom;hetriedeachofthesumptuouschairs,andthoughthowproudhewouldbeiftheOffalCourtherdcouldonlypeepinandseehiminhisgrandeur.Hewonderediftheywouldbelievethemarvelloustaleheshouldtellwhenhegothome,oriftheywouldshaketheirheads,andsayhisovertaxedimaginationhadatlastupsethisreason.

           Attheendofhalfanhouritsuddenlyoccurredtohimthattheprincewasgonealongtime;thenrightawayhebegantofeellonely;verysoonhefelltolisteningandlonging,andceasedtotoywiththeprettythingsabouthim;hegrewuneasy,thenrestless,thendistressed.Supposesomeoneshouldcome,andcatchhimintheprince’sclothes,andtheprincenottheretoexplain.Mighttheynothanghimatonce,andinquireintohiscaseafterward?Hehadheardthatthegreatwerepromptaboutsmallmatters.Hisfearrosehigherandhigher;andtremblinghesoftlyopenedthedoortotheantechamber,resolvedtoflyandseektheprince,and,throughhim,protectionandrelease.