Принц і жебрак
Tom’s meeting with the Prince
"Howdar’stthouuseapoorladlikethat?Howdar’stthouusetheKingmyfather’smeanestsubjectso?Openthegates,andlethimin!"
Youshouldhaveseenthatficklecrowdsnatchofftheirhatsthen.Youshouldhaveheardthemcheer,andshout,"LonglivethePrinceofWales!"
Thesoldierspresentedarmswiththeirhalberds,openedthegates,andpresentedagainasthelittlePrinceofPovertypassedin,inhisflutteringrags,tojoinhandswiththePrinceofLimitlessPlenty.
EdwardTudorsaid—
"Thoulookesttiredandhungry:thou’stbeentreatedill.Comewithme."
Halfadozenattendantssprangforwardto—Idon’tknowwhat;interfere,nodoubt.Buttheywerewavedasidewitharightroyalgesture,andtheystoppedstockstillwheretheywere,likesomanystatues. EdwardtookTomtoarichapartmentinthepalace,whichhecalledhiscabinet.ByhiscommandarepastwasbroughtsuchasTomhadneverencounteredbeforeexceptinbooks. Theprince,withprincelydelicacyandbreeding,sentawaytheservants,sothathishumbleguestmightnotbeembarrassedbytheircriticalpresence;thenhesatnearby,andaskedquestionswhileTomate.
"Whatisthyname,lad?"
"TomCanty,an’itpleasethee,sir."
"‘Tisanoddone.Wheredostlive?"
"Inthecity,pleasethee,sir.OffalCourt,outofPuddingLane."
"OffalCourt!Truly‘tisanotheroddone.Hastparents?"
