Принц и нищий
The sacrifice
"Letthechildgo,"saidhe;"yeheartlessdogs,doyenotseehowyoungandfrailheis?Lethimgo—Iwilltakehislashes."
"Marry,agoodthought—andthanksforit,"saidSirHugh,hisfacelightingwithasardonicsatisfaction."Letthelittlebeggargo,andgivethisfellowadozeninhisplace—anhonestdozen,welllaidon."TheKingwasintheactofenteringafierceprotest,butSirHughsilencedhimwiththepotentremark,"Yes,speakup,do,andfreethymind—only,markye,thatforeachwordyouutterheshallgetsixstrokesthemore."
Hendonwasremovedfromthestocks,andhisbacklaidbare;andwhilstthelashwasappliedthepoorlittleKingturnedawayhisfaceandallowedunroyaltearstochannelhischeeksunchecked."Ah,bravegoodheart,"hesaidtohimself,"thisloyaldeedshallneverperishoutofmymemory.Iwillnotforgetit—andneithershallthey!"headded,withpassion.Whilsthemused,hisappreciationofHendon’smagnanimousconductgrewtogreaterandstillgreaterdimensionsinhismind,andsoalsodidhisgratefulnessforit.Presentlyhesaidtohimself,"Whosaveshisprincefromwoundsandpossibledeath—andthishedidforme—performshighservice;butitislittle—itisnothing—oh,lessthannothing!—when‘tisweighedagainsttheactofhimwhosaveshisprincefromshame!"
Hendonmadenooutcryunderthescourge,butboretheheavyblowswithsoldierlyfortitude.
