Принц і жебрак

           Theytriedtochangethetopic,buthisfearswerearoused,andhepursuedit—

           "Willtheyscourgethee?No,no,theywouldnotbesocruel!Saytheywouldnot.Come,theywillnot,willthey?"

           Thewomenbetrayedconfusionanddistress,buttherewasnoavoidingananswer,sooneofthemsaid,inavoicechokedwithemotion—

           "Oh,thou’ltbreakourhearts,thougentlespirit!—Godwillhelpustobearour—"

           "Itisaconfession!"theKingbrokein."Thentheywillscourgethee,thestony-heartedwretches!Butoh,thoumustnotweep,Icannotbearit.Keepupthycourage—Ishallcometomyownintimetosavetheefromthisbitterthing,andIwilldoit!"

           WhentheKingawokeinthemorning,thewomenweregone.

           "Theyaresaved!"hesaid,joyfully;thenadded,despondently,"butwoeisme!—fortheyweremycomforters."

           Eachofthemhadleftashredofribbonpinnedtohisclothing,intokenofremembrance.Hesaidhewouldkeepthesethingsalways;andthatsoonhewouldseekoutthesedeargoodfriendsofhisandtakethemunderhisprotection.

           Justthenthejailercameinwithsomesubordinates,andcommandedthattheprisonersbeconductedtothejail-yard.TheKingwasoverjoyed—itwouldbeablessedthingtoseetheblueskyandbreathethefreshaironcemore.Hefrettedandchafedattheslownessoftheofficers,buthisturncameatlast,andhewasreleasedfromhisstapleandorderedtofollowtheotherprisonerswithHendon.

           Thecourtorquadranglewasstone-paved,andopentothesky.