Le Roi est mort — vive le Roi
Towarddaylightofthesamemorning,TomCantystirredoutofaheavysleepandopenedhiseyesinthedark.Helaysilentafewmoments,tryingtoanalysehisconfusedthoughtsandimpressions,andgetsomesortofmeaningoutofthem;thensuddenlyheburstoutinarapturousbutguardedvoice—
"Iseeitall,Iseeitall!NowGodbethanked,Iamindeedawakeatlast!Come,joy!vanish,sorrow!Ho,Nan!Bet!kickoffyourstrawandhieyehithertomyside,tillIdopourintoyourunbelievingearsthewildestmadcapdreamthateverthespiritsofnightdidconjureuptoastonishthesoulofmanwithal!...Ho,Nan,Isay!Bet!"
Adimformappearedathisside,andavoicesaid—
"Wiltdeigntodeliverthycommands?"
"Commands?...O,woeisme,Iknowthyvoice!Speakthou—whoamI?"
"Thou?Insooth,yesternightwertthouthePrinceofWales;to-dayartthoumymostgraciousliege,Edward,KingofEngland."
Tomburiedhisheadamonghispillows,murmuringplaintively—
"Alack,itwasnodream!Gotothyrest,sweetsir—leavemetomysorrows."
Tomsleptagain,andafteratimehehadthispleasantdream.Hethoughtitwassummer,andhewasplaying,allalone,inthefairmeadowcalledGoodman’sFields,whenadwarfonlyafoothigh,withlongredwhiskersandahumpedback,appearedtohimsuddenlyandsaid,"Digbythatstump."Hedidso,andfoundtwelvebrightnewpennies—wonderfulriches!Yetthiswasnotthebestofit;forthedwarfsaid—
"Iknowthee.