Принц і жебрак

           Sixgorgeousgentlemen-servantsandtwoyoungpagesofhighdegree,clothedlikebutterflies,sprangtotheirfeetandbowedlowbeforehim.Hesteppedquicklybackandshutthedoor.Hesaid—

           "Oh,theymockatme!Theywillgoandtell.Oh!whycameIheretocastawaymylife?"

           Hewalkedupanddownthefloor,filledwithnamelessfears,listening,startingateverytriflingsound.Presentlythedoorswungopen,andasilkenpagesaid—

           "TheLadyJaneGrey."

           Thedoorclosedandasweetyounggirl,richlyclad,boundedtowardhim.Butshestoppedsuddenly,andsaidinadistressedvoice—

           "Oh,whataileththee,mylord?"

           Tom’sbreathwasnearlyfailinghim;buthemadeshifttostammerout—

           "Ah,bemerciful,thou!InsoothIamnolord,butonlypoorTomCantyofOffalCourtinthecity.Pritheeletmeseetheprince,andhewillofhisgracerestoretomemyrags,andletmehenceunhurt.Oh,bethoumerciful,andsaveme!"

           Bythistimetheboywasonhisknees,andsupplicatingwithhiseyesandupliftedhandsaswellaswithhistongue.Theyounggirlseemedhorror-stricken.Shecriedout—

           "Omylord,onthyknees?—andtome!"