33. Chapter XXXIII. Edward as King.

The Prince and the Pauper / 王子与贫儿

1Miles Hendon was picturesque enough before he got into the riot on London Bridgehe was more so when he got out of it. He had but little money when he got in, none at all when he got out. The pickpockets had stripped him of his last farthing.

2But no matter, so he found his boy. Being a soldier, he did not go at his task in a random way, but set to work, first of all, to arrange his campaign.

3What would the boy naturally do? Where would he naturally go? Wellargued Mileshe would naturally go to his former haunts, for that is the instinct of unsound minds, when homeless and forsaken, as well as of sound ones. Whereabouts were his former haunts? His rags, taken together with the low villain who seemed to know him and who even claimed to be his father, indicated that his home was in one or another of the poorest and meanest districts of London. Would the search for him be difficult, or long? No, it was likely to be easy and brief. He would not hunt for the boy, he would hunt for a crowd; in the centre of a big crowd or a little one, sooner or later, he should find his poor little friend, sure; and the mangy mob would be entertaining itself with pestering and aggravating the boy, who would be proclaiming himself King, as usual. Then Miles Hendon would cripple some of those people, and carry off his little ward, and comfort and cheer him with loving words, and the two would never be separated any more.

4So Miles started on his quest. Hour after hour he tramped through back alleys and squalid streets, seeking groups and crowds, and finding no end of them, but never any sign of the boy. This greatly surprised him, but did not discourage him. To his notion, there was nothing the matter with his plan of campaign; the only miscalculation about it was that the campaign was becoming a lengthy one, whereas he had expected it to be short.

5When daylight arrived, at last, he had made many a mile, and canvassed many a crowd, but the only result was that he was tolerably tired, rather hungry and very sleepy. He wanted some breakfast, but there was no way to get it. To beg for it did not occur to him; as to pawning his sword, he would as soon have thought of parting with his honour; he could spare some of his clothesyes, but one could as easily find a customer for a disease as for such clothes.

6At noon he was still trampingamong the rabble which followed after the royal procession, now; for he argued that this regal display would attract his little lunatic powerfully. He followed the pageant through all its devious windings about London, and all the way to Westminster and the Abbey. He drifted here and there amongst the multitudes that were massed in the vicinity for a weary long time, baffled and perplexed, and finally wandered off, thinking, and trying to contrive some way to better his plan of campaign. By-and-by, when he came to himself out of his musings, he discovered that the town was far behind him and that the day was growing old. He was near the river, and in the country; it was a region of fine rural seatsnot the sort of district to welcome clothes like his.

7It was not at all cold; so he stretched himself on the ground in the lee of a hedge to rest and think. Drowsiness presently began to settle upon his senses; the faint and far-off boom of cannon was wafted to his ear, and he said to himself, “The new King is crowned,” and straightway fell asleep. He had not slept or rested, before, for more than thirty hours. He did not wake again until near the middle of the next morning.

8He got up, lame, stiff, and half famished, washed himself in the river, stayed his stomach with a pint or two of water, and trudged off toward Westminster, grumbling at himself for having wasted so much time. Hunger helped him to a new plan, now; he would try to get speech with old Sir Humphrey Marlow and borrow a few marks, andbut that was enough of a plan for the present; it would be time enough to enlarge it when this first stage should be accomplished.

9Toward eleven oclock he approached the palace; and although a host of showy people were about him, moving in the same direction, he was not inconspicuoushis costume took care of that. He watched these peoples faces narrowly, hoping to find a charitable one whose possessor might be willing to carry his name to the old lieutenantas to trying to get into the palace himself, that was simply out of the question.

10Presently our whipping-boy passed him, then wheeled about and scanned his figure well, saying to himself, “Anthat is not the very vagabond his Majesty is in such a worry about, then am I an assthough belike I was that before. He answereth the description to a ragthat God should make two such would be to cheapen miracles by wasteful repetition. I would I could contrive an excuse to speak with him.”

11Miles Hendon saved him the trouble; for he turned about, then, as a man generally will when somebody mesmerises him by gazing hard at him from behind; and observing a strong interest in the boys eyes, he stepped toward him and said

12You have just come out from the palace; do you belong there?”

13Yes, your worship.”

14Know you Sir Humphrey Marlow?”

15The boy started, and said to himself, “Lord! mine old departed father!” Then he answered aloud, “Right well, your worship.”

16Goodis he within?”

17Yes,” said the boy; and added, to himself, “within his grave.”

18Might I crave your favour to carry my name to him, and say I beg to say a word in his ear?”

19I will despatch the business right willingly, fair sir.”

20Then say Miles Hendon, son of Sir Richard, is here withoutI shall be greatly bounden to you, my good lad.”

21The boy looked disappointed. "The King did not name him so,” he said to himself; “but it mattereth not, this is his twin brother, and can give his Majesty news of tother Sir-Odds-and-Ends, I warrant.” So he said to Miles, “Step in there a moment, good sir, and wait till I bring you word.”

22Hendon retired to the place indicatedit was a recess sunk in the palace wall, with a stone bench in ita shelter for sentinels in bad weather. He had hardly seated himself when some halberdiers, in charge of an officer, passed by. The officer saw him, halted his men, and commanded Hendon to come forth. He obeyed, and was promptly arrested as a suspicious character prowling within the precincts of the palace. Things began to look ugly. Poor Miles was going to explain, but the officer roughly silenced him, and ordered his men to disarm him and search him.

23God of his mercy grant that they find somewhat,” said poor Miles; “I have searched enow, and failed, yet is my need greater than theirs.”

24Nothing was found but a document. The officer tore it open, and Hendon smiled when he recognised thepot-hooksmade by his lost little friend that black day at Hendon Hall. The officers face grew dark as he read the English paragraph, and Miles blenched to the opposite colour as he listened.

25Another new claimant of the Crown!” cried the officer. "Verily they breed like rabbits, to-day. Seize the rascal, men, and see ye keep him fast whilst I convey this precious paper within and send it to the King.

26He hurried away, leaving the prisoner in the grip of the halberdiers.

27Now is my evil luck ended at last,” muttered Hendon, “for I shall dangle at a ropes end for a certainty, by reason of that bit of writing. And what will become of my poor lad!—ah, only the good God knoweth.”

28By-and-by he saw the officer coming again, in a great hurry; so he plucked his courage together, purposing to meet his trouble as became a man. The officer ordered the men to loose the prisoner and return his sword to him; then bowed respectfully, and said

29Please you, sir, to follow me.”

30Hendon followed, saying to himself, “AnI were not travelling to death and judgment, and so must needs economise in sin, I would throttle this knave for his mock courtesy.”

31The two traversed a populous court, and arrived at the grand entrance of the palace, where the officer, with another bow, delivered Hendon into the hands of a gorgeous official, who received him with profound respect and led him forward through a great hall, lined on both sides with rows of splendid flunkeys (who made reverential obeisance as the two passed along, but fell into death-throes of silent laughter at our stately scarecrow the moment his back was turned), and up a broad staircase, among flocks of fine folk, and finally conducted him into a vast room, clove a passage for him through the assembled nobility of England, then made a bow, reminded him to take his hat off, and left him standing in the middle of the room, a mark for all eyes, for plenty of indignant frowns, and for a sufficiency of amused and derisive smiles.

32Miles Hendon was entirely bewildered. There sat the young King, under a canopy of state, five steps away, with his head bent down and aside, speaking with a sort of human bird of paradisea duke, maybe. Hendon observed to himself that it was hard enough to be sentenced to death in the full vigour of life, without having this peculiarly public humiliation added. He wished the King would hurry about itsome of the gaudy people near by were becoming pretty offensive. At this moment the King raised his head slightly, and Hendon caught a good view of his face. The sight nearly took his breath away! He stood gazing at the fair young face like one transfixed; then presently ejaculated

33Lo, the Lord of the Kingdom of Dreams and Shadows on his throne!”

34He muttered some broken sentences, still gazing and marvelling; then turned his eyes around and about, scanning the gorgeous throng and the splendid saloon, murmuring, “But these are realverily these are realsurely it is not a dream.”

35He stared at the King againand thought, “Is it a dream . . . or is he the veritable Sovereign of England, and not the friendless poor Tom oBedlam I took him forwho shall solve me this riddle?”

36A sudden idea flashed in his eye, and he strode to the wall, gathered up a chair, brought it back, planted it on the floor, and sat down in it!

37A buzz of indignation broke out, a rough hand was laid upon him and a voice exclaimed

38Up, thou mannerless clown! wouldst sit in the presence of the King?”

39The disturbance attracted his Majestys attention, who stretched forth his hand and cried out

40Touch him not, it is his right!”

41The throng fell back, stupefied. The King went on

42Learn ye all, ladies, lords, and gentlemen, that this is my trusty and well-beloved servant, Miles Hendon, who interposed his good sword and saved his prince from bodily harm and possible deathand for this he is a knight, by the Kings voice. Also learn, that for a higher service, in that he saved his sovereign stripes and shame, taking these upon himself, he is a peer of England, Earl of Kent, and shall have gold and lands meet for the dignity. Morethe privilege which he hath just exercised is his by royal grant; for we have ordained that the chiefs of his line shall have and hold the right to sit in the presence of the Majesty of England henceforth, age after age, so long as the crown shall endure. Molest him not.”

43Two persons, who, through delay, had only arrived from the country during this morning, and had now been in this room only five minutes, stood listening to these words and looking at the King, then at the scarecrow, then at the King again, in a sort of torpid bewilderment. These were Sir Hugh and the Lady Edith. But the new Earl did not see them. He was still staring at the monarch, in a dazed way, and muttering

44Oh, body ome! this my pauper! This my lunatic! This is he whom I would show what grandeur was, in my house of seventy rooms and seven-and-twenty servants! This is he who had never known aught but rags for raiment, kicks for comfort, and offal for diet! This is he whom I adopted and would make respectable! Would God I had a bag to hide my head in!”

45Then his manners suddenly came back to him, and he dropped upon his knees, with his hands between the Kings, and swore allegiance and did homage for his lands and titles. Then he rose and stood respectfully aside, a mark still for all eyesand much envy, too.

46Now the King discovered Sir Hugh, and spoke out with wrathful voice and kindling eye

47Strip this robber of his false show and stolen estates, and put him under lock and key till I have need of him.”

48The late Sir Hugh was led away.

49There was a stir at the other end of the room, now; the assemblage fell apart, and Tom Canty, quaintly but richly clothed, marched down, between these living walls, preceded by an usher. He knelt before the King, who said

50I have learned the story of these past few weeks, and am well pleased with thee. Thou hast governed the realm with right royal gentleness and mercy. Thou hast found thy mother and thy sisters again? Good; they shall be cared forand thy father shall hang, if thou desire it and the law consent. Know, all ye that hear my voice, that from this day, they that abide in the shelter of Christs Hospital and share the Kings bounty shall have their minds and hearts fed, as well as their baser parts; and this boy shall dwell there, and hold the chief place in its honourable body of governors, during life. And for that he hath been a king, it is meet that other than common observance shall be his due; wherefore note this his dress of state, for by it he shall be known, and none shall copy it; and wheresoever he shall come, it shall remind the people that he hath been royal, in his time, and none shall deny him his due of reverence or fail to give him salutation. He hath the thrones protection, he hath the crowns support, he shall be known and called by the honourable title of the Kings Ward.”

51The proud and happy Tom Canty rose and kissed the Kings hand, and was conducted from the presence. He did not waste any time, but flew to his mother, to tell her and Nan and Bet all about it and get them to help him enjoy the great news. {1}