Afterhoursofpersistentpursuitandpersecution, thelittleprincewasatlastdesertedbytherabbleandlefttohimself. Aslongashehadbeenabletorageagainstthemob, andthreatenitroyally, androyallyuttercommandsthatweregoodstufftolaughat, hewasveryentertaining; butwhenwearinessfinallyforcedhimtobesilent, hewasnolongerofusetohistormentors, andtheysoughtamusementelsewhere. Helookedabouthim, now, butcouldnotrecognisethelocality. HewaswithinthecityofLondon—thatwasallheknew. Hemovedon, aimlessly, andin a littlewhilethehousesthinned, andthepassers-bywereinfrequent. HebathedhisbleedingfeetinthebrookwhichflowedthenwhereFarringdonStreetnowis; rested a fewmoments, thenpassedon, andpresentlycameupon a greatspacewithonly a fewscatteredhousesinit, and a prodigiouschurch. Herecognisedthischurch. Scaffoldingswereabout, everywhere, andswarmsofworkmen; foritwasundergoingelaboraterepairs. Theprincetookheartatonce—hefeltthathistroubleswereatanend, now. Hesaidtohimself, "ItistheancientGreyFriars' Church, whichthekingmyfatherhathtakenfromthemonksandgivenfor a homeforeverforpoorandforsakenchildren, andnew-nameditChrist's Church. Rightgladlywilltheyservethesonofhimwhohathdonesogenerouslybythem—andthemorethatthatsonishimselfaspoorandasforlornasanythatbeshelteredherethisday, orevershallbe."
1
Hewassooninthemidstof a crowdofboyswhowererunning, jumping, playingatballandleap-frog, andotherwisedisportingthemselves, andrightnoisily, too. Theywerealldressedalike, andinthefashionwhichinthatdayprevailedamongserving-menand 'prentices{1}—thatistosay, eachhadonthecrownofhishead a flatblackcapaboutthesizeof a saucer, whichwasnotusefulas a covering, itbeingofsuchscantydimensions, neitherwasitornamental; frombeneathitthehairfell, unparted, tothemiddleoftheforehead, andwascroppedstraightaround; a clericalbandattheneck; a bluegownthatfittedcloselyandhungaslowasthekneesorlower; fullsleeves; a broadredbelt; brightyellowstockings, garteredabovetheknees; lowshoeswithlargemetalbuckles. Itwas a sufficientlyuglycostume.
Thenfollowedsuch a thingasEnglandhadneverseenbefore—thesacredpersonoftheheirtothethronerudelybuffetedbyplebeianhands, andsetuponandtornbydogs.
17
Asnightdrewto a closethatday, theprincefoundhimselffardownintheclose-builtportionofthecity. Hisbodywasbruised, hishandswerebleeding, andhisragswereallbesmirchedwithmud. Hewanderedonandon, andgrewmoreandmorebewildered, andsotiredandfainthecouldhardlydragonefootaftertheother. Hehadceasedtoaskquestionsofanyone, sincetheybroughthimonlyinsultinsteadofinformation. Hekeptmutteringtohimself, "OffalCourt—thatisthename; if I canbutfinditbeforemystrengthiswhollyspentand I drop, thenam I saved—forhispeoplewilltakemetothepalaceandprovethat I amnoneoftheirs, butthetrueprince, and I shallhavemineownagain." AndnowandthenhismindrevertedtohistreatmentbythoserudeChrist's Hospitalboys, andhesaid, "When I amking, theyshallnothavebreadandshelteronly, butalsoteachingsoutofbooks; for a fullbellyislittleworthwherethemindisstarved, andtheheart. I willkeepthisdiligentlyinmyremembrance, thatthisday's lessonbenotlostuponme, andmypeoplesufferthereby; forlearningsofteneththeheartandbreedethgentlenessandcharity." {1}
18
Thelightsbegantotwinkle, itcameontorain, thewindrose, and a rawandgustynightsetin. Thehouselessprince, thehomelessheirtothethroneofEngland, stillmovedon, driftingdeeperintothemazeofsqualidalleyswheretheswarminghivesofpovertyandmiseryweremassedtogether.
19
Suddenly a greatdrunkenruffiancollaredhimandsaid—
20
"Outtothistimeofnightagain, andhastnotbrought a farthinghome, I warrantme! Ifitbeso, an' I donotbreakallthebonesinthyleanbody, thenam I notJohnCanty, butsomeother."
"GonestarkmadasanyTom o' Bedlam!"—thencollaredhimoncemore, andsaidwith a coarselaughandanoath, "Butmadornomad, I andthyGammerCantywillsoonfindwherethesoftplacesinthyboneslie, or I'm notrueman!"