Принц і жебрак
Tom’s first royal dinner.
"Icraveyourindulgence:mynoseitchethcruelly.Whatisthecustomandusageinthisemergence?Prithee,speed,for‘tisbutalittletimethatIcanbearit."
Nonesmiled;butallweresoreperplexed,andlookedonetotheotherindeeptribulationforcounsel.Butbehold,herewasadeadwall,andnothinginEnglishhistorytotellhowtogetoverit.TheMasterofCeremonieswasnotpresent:therewasnoonewhofeltsafetoventureuponthisunchartedsea,orrisktheattempttosolvethissolemnproblem.Alas!therewasnoHereditaryScratcher.Meantimethetearshadoverflowedtheirbanks,andbeguntotrickledownTom’scheeks.Histwitchingnosewaspleadingmoreurgentlythaneverforrelief.Atlastnaturebrokedownthebarriersofetiquette:Tomliftedupaninwardprayerforpardonifhewasdoingwrong,andbroughtrelieftotheburdenedheartsofhiscourtbyscratchinghisnosehimself.
Hismealbeingended,alordcameandheldbeforehimabroad,shallow,goldendishwithfragrantrosewaterinit,tocleansehismouthandfingerswith;andmylordtheHereditaryDiapererstoodbywithanapkinforhisuse.Tomgazedatthedishapuzzledmomentortwo,thenraisedittohislips,andgravelytookadraught.Thenhereturnedittothewaitinglord,andsaid—
"Nay,itlikesmenot,mylord:ithathaprettyflavour,butitwantethstrength."
Thisneweccentricityoftheprince’sruinedmindmadealltheheartsabouthimache;butthesadsightmovednonetomerriment.
Tom’snextunconsciousblunderwastogetupandleavethetablejustwhenthechaplainhadtakenhisstandbehindhischair,andwithupliftedhands,andclosed,upliftedeyes,wasintheactofbeginningtheblessing.
