Принц і жебрак
The Prince in the toils
Evidentlyshewasrackingherheadinvain—itseemedmanifestthatshemustgivethematterup.Whilethisdepressingthoughtwaspassingthroughhermind,herearcaughttheregularbreathingoftheboy,andsheknewhehadfallenasleep.Andwhileshelistened,themeasuredbreathingwasbrokenbyasoft,startledcry,suchasoneuttersinatroubleddream.Thischanceoccurrencefurnishedherinstantlywithaplanworthallherlabouredtestscombined.Sheatoncesetherselffeverishly,butnoiselessly,toworktorelighthercandle,mutteringtoherself,"HadIbutseenhimthen,Ishouldhaveknown!Sincethatday,whenhewaslittle,thatthepowderburstinhisface,hehathneverbeenstartledofasuddenoutofhisdreamsoroutofhisthinkings,buthehathcasthishandbeforehiseyes,evenashedidthatday;andnotasotherswoulddoit,withthepalminward,butalwayswiththepalmturnedoutward—Ihaveseenitahundredtimes,andithathnevervariednoreverfailed.Yes,Ishallsoonknow,now!"
Bythistimeshehadcrepttotheslumberingboy’sside,withthecandle,shaded,inherhand.Shebentheedfullyandwarilyoverhim,scarcelybreathinginhersuppressedexcitement,andsuddenlyflashedthelightinhisfaceandstruckthefloorbyhisearwithherknuckles.Thesleeper’seyessprangwideopen,andhecastastartledstareabouthim—buthemadenospecialmovementwithhishands.
