Принц і жебрак
Edward as King
Hourafterhourhetrampedthroughbackalleysandsqualidstreets,seekinggroupsandcrowds,andfindingnoendofthem,butneveranysignoftheboy.Thisgreatlysurprisedhim,butdidnotdiscouragehim.Tohisnotion,therewasnothingthematterwithhisplanofcampaign;theonlymiscalculationaboutitwasthatthecampaignwasbecomingalengthyone,whereashehadexpectedittobeshort.
Whendaylightarrived,atlast,hehadmademanyamile,andcanvassedmanyacrowd,buttheonlyresultwasthathewastolerablytired,ratherhungryandverysleepy.Hewantedsomebreakfast,buttherewasnowaytogetit.Tobegforitdidnotoccurtohim;astopawninghissword,hewouldassoonhavethoughtofpartingwithhishonour;hecouldsparesomeofhisclothes—yes,butonecouldaseasilyfindacustomerforadiseaseasforsuchclothes.
Atnoonhewasstilltramping—amongtherabblewhichfollowedaftertheroyalprocession,now;forhearguedthatthisregaldisplaywouldattracthislittlelunaticpowerfully.HefollowedthepageantthroughallitsdeviouswindingsaboutLondon,andallthewaytoWestminsterandtheAbbey.Hedriftedhereandthereamongstthemultitudesthatweremassedinthevicinityforawearylongtime,baffledandperplexed,andfinallywanderedoff,thinking,andtryingtocontrivesomewaytobetterhisplanofcampaign.By-and-by,whenhecametohimselfoutofhismusings,hediscoveredthatthetownwasfarbehindhimandthatthedaywasgrowingold.
