Принц і жебрак

           Thepoorwomanwassmittenalmosthelplesswithsurpriseandgrief;butshecontrivedtohideheremotions,andtosoothetheboytosleepagain;thenshecreptapartandcommunedmiserablywithherselfuponthedisastrousresultofherexperiment.ShetriedtobelievethatherTom’smadnesshadbanishedthishabitualgestureofhis;butshecouldnotdoit."No,"shesaid,"hishandsarenotmad;theycouldnotunlearnsooldahabitinsobriefatime.Oh,thisisaheavydayforme!"

           Still,hopewasasstubbornnowasdoubthadbeenbefore;shecouldnotbringherselftoaccepttheverdictofthetest;shemusttrythethingagain—thefailuremusthavebeenonlyanaccident;soshestartledtheboyoutofhissleepasecondandathirdtime,atintervals—withthesameresultwhichhadmarkedthefirsttest;thenshedraggedherselftobed,andfellsorrowfullyasleep,saying,"ButIcannotgivehimup—ohno,Icannot,Icannot—hemustbemyboy!"

           Thepoormother’sinterruptionshavingceased,andthePrince’spainshavinggraduallylosttheirpowertodisturbhim,utterwearinessatlastsealedhiseyesinaprofoundandrestfulsleep.Hourafterhourslippedaway,andstillhesleptlikethedead.Thusfourorfivehourspassed.Thenhisstuporbegantolighten.Presently,whilehalfasleepandhalfawake,hemurmured—

           "SirWilliam!"

           Afteramoment—

           "Ho,SirWilliamHerbert!Hietheehither,andlisttothestrangestdreamthatever...SirWilliam!dosthear?Man,Ididthinkmechangedtoapauper,and...