Принц і жебрак

           Wherefore,atlast,whentheladies’visitwasdrawingtoacloseandtheLordGuilfordDudleywasannounced,theynotonlyfeltthattheirchargehadbeensufficientlytaxedforthepresent,butalsothattheythemselveswerenotinthebestconditiontotaketheirshipbackandmaketheiranxiousvoyagealloveragain.SotheyrespectfullyadvisedTomtoexcusehimself,whichhewasverygladtodo,althoughaslightshadeofdisappointmentmighthavebeenobserveduponmyLadyJane’sfacewhensheheardthesplendidstriplingdeniedadmittance.

           Therewasapausenow,asortofwaitingsilencewhichTomcouldnotunderstand.HeglancedatLordHertford,whogavehimasign—buthefailedtounderstandthatalso.ThereadyElizabethcametotherescuewithherusualeasygrace.Shemadereverenceandsaid—

           "Haveweleaveoftheprince’sgracemybrothertogo?"

           Tomsaid—

           "Indeedyourladyshipscanhavewhatsoeverofmetheywill,fortheasking;yetwouldIrathergivethemanyotherthingthatinmypoorpowerlieth,thanleavetotakethelightandblessingoftheirpresencehence.Giveyegoodden,andGodbewithye!"Thenhesmiledinwardlyatthethought,"‘TisnotfornoughtIhavedweltbutamongprincesinmyreading,andtaughtmytonguesomeslighttrickoftheirbroideredandgraciousspeechwithal!"

           Whentheillustriousmaidensweregone,Tomturnedwearilytohiskeepersandsaid—

           "Mayitpleaseyourlordshipstograntmeleavetogointosomecornerandrestme?"

           LordHertfordsaid—