Принц и нищий
Hendon Hall
Scourandscanmetothycontent,mygoodoldHugh—IamindeedthyoldMiles,thysameoldMiles,thylostbrother,is’tnotso?Ah,‘tisagreatday—Isaid‘twasagreatday!Givemethyhand,givemethycheek—lord,Iamliketodieofveryjoy!"
Hewasabouttothrowhimselfuponhisbrother;butHughputuphishandindissent,thendroppedhischinmournfullyuponhisbreast,sayingwithemotion—
"Ah,Godofhismercygivemestrengthtobearthisgrievousdisappointment!"
Miles,amazed,couldnotspeakforamoment;thenhefoundhistongue,andcriedout—
"Whatdisappointment?AmInotthybrother?"
Hughshookhisheadsadly,andsaid—
"Iprayheavenitmayproveso,andthatothereyesmayfindtheresemblancesthatarehidfrommine.Alack,Ifearmetheletterspokebuttootruly."
"Whatletter?"
"Onethatcamefromoversea,somesixorsevenyearsago.Itsaidmybrotherdiedinbattle."
"Itwasalie!Callthyfather—hewillknowme."
"Onemaynotcallthedead."
"Dead?"Miles’svoicewassubdued,andhislipstrembled."Myfatherdead!—oh,thisisheavynews.Halfmynewjoyiswitherednow.PritheeletmeseemybrotherArthur—hewillknowme;hewillknowmeandconsoleme."
"He,also,isdead."
"Godbemercifultome,astrickenman!Gone,—bothgone—theworthytakenandtheworthlessspared,inme!Ah!Icraveyourmercy!—donotsaytheLadyEdith—"
"Isdead?No,shelives.