The Prince and the Pauper Read online

  CHAPTER VI. Tom receives instructions.

  Tom was conducted to the principal apartment of a noble suite, and madeto sit down--a thing which he was loth to do, since there were elderlymen and men of high degree about him. ?He begged them to be seatedalso, but they only bowed their thanks or murmured them, and remainedstanding. He would have insisted, but his 'uncle' the Earl of Hertfordwhispered in his ear--

  "Prithee, insist not, my lord; it is not meet that they sit in thypresence."

  The Lord St. John was announced, and after making obeisance to Tom, hesaid--

  "I come upon the King's errand, concerning a matter which requirethprivacy. ?Will it please your royal highness to dismiss all that attendyou here, save my lord the Earl of Hertford?"

  Observing that Tom did not seem to know how to proceed, Hertfordwhispered him to make a sign with his hand, and not trouble himself tospeak unless he chose. ?When the waiting gentlemen had retired, Lord St.John said--

  "His majesty commandeth, that for due and weighty reasons of state, theprince's grace shall hide his infirmity in all ways that be within hispower, till it be passed and he be as he was before. ?To wit, that heshall deny to none that he is the true prince, and heir to England'sgreatness; that he shall uphold his princely dignity, and shall receive,without word or sign of protest, that reverence and observance whichunto it do appertain of right and ancient usage; that he shall cease tospeak to any of that lowly birth and life his malady hath conjuredout of the unwholesome imaginings of o'er-wrought fancy; that he shallstrive with diligence to bring unto his memory again those faces whichhe was wont to know--and where he faileth he shall hold his peace,neither betraying by semblance of surprise or other sign that he hathforgot; that upon occasions of state, whensoever any matter shallperplex him as to the thing he should do or the utterance he shouldmake, he shall show nought of unrest to the curious that look on, buttake advice in that matter of the Lord Hertford, or my humble self,which are commanded of the King to be upon this service and close atcall, till this commandment be dissolved. Thus saith the King's majesty,who sendeth greeting to your royal highness, and prayeth that God willof His mercy quickly heal you and have you now and ever in His holykeeping."

  The Lord St. John made reverence and stood aside. ?Tom repliedresignedly--

  "The King hath said it. ?None may palter with the King's command, or fitit to his ease, where it doth chafe, with deft evasions. The King shallbe obeyed."

  Lord Hertford said--

  "Touching the King's majesty's ordainment concerning books and such likeserious matters, it may peradventure please your highness to ease yourtime with lightsome entertainment, lest you go wearied to the banquetand suffer harm thereby."

  Tom's face showed inquiring surprise; and a blush followed when he sawLord St. John's eyes bent sorrowfully upon him. ?His lordship said--

  "Thy memory still wrongeth thee, and thou hast shown surprise--butsuffer it not to trouble thee, for 'tis a matter that will not bide,but depart with thy mending malady. ?My Lord of Hertford speaketh ofthe city's banquet which the King's majesty did promise, some two monthsflown, your highness should attend. ?Thou recallest it now?"

  "It grieves me to confess it had indeed escaped me," said Tom, in ahesitating voice; and blushed again.

  At this moment the Lady Elizabeth and the Lady Jane Grey were announced.The two lords exchanged significant glances, and Hertford steppedquickly toward the door. ?As the young girls passed him, he said in alow voice--

  "I pray ye, ladies, seem not to observe his humours, nor show surprisewhen his memory doth lapse--it will grieve you to note how it doth stickat every trifle."

  Meantime Lord St. John was saying in Tom's ear--

  "Please you, sir, keep diligently in mind his majesty's desire. Rememberall thou canst--_seem_ to remember all else. ?Let them not perceive thatthou art much changed from thy wont, for thou knowest how tenderly thyold play-fellows bear thee in their hearts and how 'twould grieve them.Art willing, sir, that I remain?--and thine uncle?"

  Tom signified assent with a gesture and a murmured word, for he wasalready learning, and in his simple heart was resolved to acquit himselfas best he might, according to the King's command.

  In spite of every precaution, the conversation among the young peoplebecame a little embarrassing at times. ?More than once, in truth,Tom was near to breaking down and confessing himself unequal to histremendous part; but the tact of the Princess Elizabeth saved him, or aword from one or the other of the vigilant lords, thrown in apparentlyby chance, had the same happy effect. ?Once the little Lady Jane turnedto Tom and dismayed him with this question,--

  "Hast paid thy duty to the Queen's majesty to-day, my lord?"

  Tom hesitated, looked distressed, and was about to stammer out somethingat hazard, when Lord St. John took the word and answered for himwith the easy grace of a courtier accustomed to encounter delicatedifficulties and to be ready for them--

  "He hath indeed, madam, and she did greatly hearten him, as touching hismajesty's condition; is it not so, your highness?"

  Tom mumbled something that stood for assent, but felt that he wasgetting upon dangerous ground. ?Somewhat later it was mentioned thatTom was to study no more at present, whereupon her little ladyshipexclaimed--

  "'Tis a pity, 'tis a pity! ?Thou wert proceeding bravely. ?But bide thytime in patience: ?it will not be for long. ?Thou'lt yet be gracedwith learning like thy father, and make thy tongue master of as manylanguages as his, good my prince."

  "My father!" cried Tom, off his guard for the moment. ?"I trow he cannotspeak his own so that any but the swine that kennel in the styes maytell his meaning; and as for learning of any sort soever--"

  He looked up and encountered a solemn warning in my Lord St. John'seyes.

  He stopped, blushed, then continued low and sadly: "Ah, my maladypersecuteth me again, and my mind wandereth. ?I meant the King's graceno irreverence."

  "We know it, sir," said the Princess Elizabeth, taking her 'brother's'hand between her two palms, respectfully but caressingly; "trouble notthyself as to that. ?The fault is none of thine, but thy distemper's."

  "Thou'rt a gentle comforter, sweet lady," said Tom, gratefully, "and myheart moveth me to thank thee for't, an' I may be so bold."

  Once the giddy little Lady Jane fired a simple Greek phrase at Tom.?The Princess Elizabeth's quick eye saw by the serene blankness of thetarget's front that the shaft was overshot; so she tranquilly delivereda return volley of sounding Greek on Tom's behalf, and then straightwaychanged the talk to other matters.

  Time wore on pleasantly, and likewise smoothly, on the whole. Snags andsandbars grew less and less frequent, and Tom grew more and more athis ease, seeing that all were so lovingly bent upon helping him andoverlooking his mistakes. ?When it came out that the little ladies wereto accompany him to the Lord Mayor's banquet in the evening, his heartgave a bound of relief and delight, for he felt that he should not befriendless, now, among that multitude of strangers; whereas, anhour earlier, the idea of their going with him would have been aninsupportable terror to him.

  Tom's guardian angels, the two lords, had had less comfort in theinterview than the other parties to it. ?They felt much as if they werepiloting a great ship through a dangerous channel; they were on thealert constantly, and found their office no child's play. Wherefore,at last, when the ladies' visit was drawing to a close and the LordGuilford Dudley was announced, they not only felt that their charge hadbeen sufficiently taxed for the present, but also that they themselveswere not in the best condition to take their ship back and make theiranxious voyage all over again. ?So they respectfully advised Tom toexcuse himself, which he was very glad to do, although a slight shadeof disappointment might have been observed upon my Lady Jane's face whenshe heard the splendid stripling denied admittance.

  There was a pause now, a sort of waiting silence which Tom could notunderstand. ?He glanced at Lord Hertford, who gave him a sign--but hefailed to understand that also. ?The ready Elizab
eth came to the rescuewith her usual easy grace. ?She made reverence and said--

  "Have we leave of the prince's grace my brother to go?"

  Tom said--

  "Indeed your ladyships can have whatsoever of me they will, for theasking; yet would I rather give them any other thing that in my poorpower lieth, than leave to take the light and blessing of their presencehence. ?Give ye good den, and God be with ye!" Then he smiled inwardlyat the thought, "'Tis not for nought I have dwelt but among princes inmy reading, and taught my tongue some slight trick of their broideredand gracious speech withal!"

  When the illustrious maidens were gone, Tom turned wearily to hiskeepers and said--

  "May it please your lordships to grant me leave to go into some cornerand rest me?"

  Lord Hertford said--

  "So please your highness, it is for you to command, it is for us toobey. That thou should'st rest is indeed a needful thing, since thoumust journey to the city presently."

  He touched a bell, and a page appeared, who was ordered to desire thepresence of Sir William Herbert. ?This gentleman came straightway, andconducted Tom to an inner apartment. ?Tom's first movement there wasto reach for a cup of water; but a silk-and-velvet servitor seized it,dropped upon one knee, and offered it to him on a golden salver.

  Next the tired captive sat down and was going to take off his buskins,timidly asking leave with his eye, but another silk-and-velvetdiscomforter went down upon his knees and took the office from him. ?Hemade two or three further efforts to help himself, but being promptlyforestalled each time, he finally gave up, with a sigh of resignationand a murmured "Beshrew me, but I marvel they do not require to breathefor me also!" ?Slippered, and wrapped in a sumptuous robe, he laidhimself down at last to rest, but not to sleep, for his head was toofull of thoughts and the room too full of people. ?He could not dismissthe former, so they stayed; he did not know enough to dismiss thelatter, so they stayed also, to his vast regret--and theirs.

  Tom's departure had left his two noble guardians alone. ?They mused awhile, with much head-shaking and walking the floor, then Lord St. Johnsaid--

  "Plainly, what dost thou think?"

  "Plainly, then, this. ?The King is near his end; my nephew is mad--madwill mount the throne, and mad remain. ?God protect England, since shewill need it!"

  "Verily it promiseth so, indeed. ?But . . . have you no misgivings as to. . . as to . . ."

  The speaker hesitated, and finally stopped. ?He evidently felt that hewas upon delicate ground. ?Lord Hertford stopped before him, looked intohis face with a clear, frank eye, and said--

  "Speak on--there is none to hear but me. ?Misgivings as to what?"

  "I am full loth to word the thing that is in my mind, and thou so nearto him in blood, my lord. ?But craving pardon if I do offend, seemeth itnot strange that madness could so change his port and manner?--not butthat his port and speech are princely still, but that they _differ_,in one unweighty trifle or another, from what his custom was aforetime.?Seemeth it not strange that madness should filch from his memory hisfather's very lineaments; the customs and observances that are his duefrom such as be about him; and, leaving him his Latin, strip him of hisGreek and French? ?My lord, be not offended, but ease my mind of itsdisquiet and receive my grateful thanks. ?It haunteth me, his saying hewas not the prince, and so--"

  "Peace, my lord, thou utterest treason! ?Hast forgot the King's command?Remember I am party to thy crime if I but listen."

  St. John paled, and hastened to say--

  "I was in fault, I do confess it. ?Betray me not, grant me this graceout of thy courtesy, and I will neither think nor speak of this thingmore. Deal not hardly with me, sir, else am I ruined."

  "I am content, my lord. ?So thou offend not again, here or in theears of others, it shall be as though thou hadst not spoken. ?But thouneed'st not have misgivings. ?He is my sister's son; are not his voice,his face, his form, familiar to me from his cradle? Madness can do allthe odd conflicting things thou seest in him, and more. ?Dost not recallhow that the old Baron Marley, being mad, forgot the favour of hisown countenance that he had known for sixty years, and held it wasanother's; nay, even claimed he was the son of Mary Magdalene, and thathis head was made of Spanish glass; and, sooth to say, he suffered noneto touch it, lest by mischance some heedless hand might shiver it? ?Givethy misgivings easement, good my lord. ?This is the very prince--I knowhim well--and soon will be thy king; it may advantage thee to bear thisin mind, and more dwell upon it than the other."

  After some further talk, in which the Lord St. John covered up hismistake as well as he could by repeated protests that his faith wasthoroughly grounded now, and could not be assailed by doubts again, theLord Hertford relieved his fellow-keeper, and sat down to keep watch andward alone. ?He was soon deep in meditation, and evidently the longer hethought, the more he was bothered. ?By-and-by he began to pace the floorand mutter.

  "Tush, he _must_ be the prince! ?Will any be in all the land maintainthere can be two, not of one blood and birth, so marvellously twinned??And even were it so, 'twere yet a stranger miracle that chance shouldcast the one into the other's place. Nay, 'tis folly, folly, folly!"

  Presently he said--

  "Now were he impostor and called himself prince, look you _that_ wouldbe natural; that would be reasonable. ?But lived ever an impostor yet,who, being called prince by the king, prince by the court, prince byall, _denied_ his dignity and pleaded against his exaltation? ?_No_! ?Bythe soul of St. Swithin, no! ?This is the true prince, gone mad!"