PresentlyTomfoundhimselfin a nobleapartmentofthepalaceandheardthedoorclosebehindhim. Aroundhimstoodthosewhohadcomewithhim. Beforehim, at a littledistance, reclined a verylargeandveryfatman, with a wide, pulpyface, and a sternexpression. Hislargeheadwasverygrey; andhiswhiskers, whichheworeonlyaroundhisface, like a frame, weregreyalso. Hisclothingwasofrichstuff, butold, andslightlyfrayedinplaces. Oneofhisswollenlegshad a pillowunderit, andwaswrappedinbandages. Therewassilencenow; andtherewasnoheadtherebutwasbentinreverence, exceptthisman's. Thisstern-countenancedinvalidwasthedreadHenryVIII. Hesaid—andhisfacegrewgentleashebegantospeak—
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"Hownow, mylordEdward, myprince? Hastbeenmindedtocozenme, thegoodKingthyfather, wholoveththee, andkindlyuseththee, with a sorryjest?"
ThisspeechseemedtostuntheKing. Hiseyeswanderedfromfacetofaceaimlessly, thenrested, bewildered, upontheboybeforehim. Thenhesaidin a toneofdeepdisappointment—
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"Alack, I hadbelievedtherumourdisproportionedtothetruth; but I fearme 'tisnotso." Hebreathed a heavysigh, andsaidin a gentlevoice, "Cometothyfather, child: thouartnotwell."
"I praytheeofthygracebelieveme, I didbutspeakthetruth, mostdreadlord; for I amthemeanestamongthysubjects, being a pauperborn, and 'tisby a soremischanceandaccident I amhere, albeit I wasthereinnothingblameful. I ambutyoungtodie, andthoucanstsavemewithonelittleword. Ohspeakit, sir!"
"Godrequitethymercy, O myKing, andsavetheelongtoblessthyland!" Thenspringingup, heturned a joyfulfacetowardthetwolordsinwaiting, andexclaimed, "Thouheard'stit! I amnottodie: theKinghathsaidit!" Therewasnomovement, savethatallbowedwithgraverespect; butnoonespoke. Hehesitated, a littleconfused, thenturnedtimidlytowardtheKing, saying, "I maygonow?"
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"Go? Surely, ifthoudesirest. Butwhynottarryyet a little? Whitherwould'stgo?"
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Tomdroppedhiseyes, andansweredhumbly—
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"Peradventure I mistook; but I didthinkmefree, andsowas I movedtoseekagainthekennelwhere I wasbornandbredtomisery, yetwhichharbourethmymotherandmysisters, andsoishometome; whereasthesepompsandsplendourswhereunto I amnotused—oh, pleaseyou, sir, toletmego!"
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TheKingwassilentandthoughtful a while, andhisfacebetrayed a growingdistressanduneasiness. Presentlyhesaid, withsomethingofhopeinhisvoice—
"Kissme, myprince. There . . . whatfearestthou? Am I notthylovingfather?"
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"Thouartgoodtomethatamunworthy, O mightyandgraciouslord: thatintruth I know. But—but—itgrievethmetothinkofhimthatistodie, and—"
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"Ah, 'tislikethee, 'tislikethee! I knowthyheartisstillthesame, eventhoughthymindhathsufferedhurt, forthouwerteverof a gentlespirit. Butthisdukestandethbetweentheeandthinehonours: I willhaveanotherinhissteadthatshallbringnotainttohisgreatoffice. Comfortthee, myprince: troublenotthypoorheadwiththismatter."
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"Butisitnot I thatspeedhimhence, myliege? Howlongmighthenotlive, butforme?"
Tom, heavy-hearted, wasconductedfromthepresence, forthislastsentencewas a death-blowtothehopehehadcherishedthatnowhewouldbesetfree. Oncemoreheheardthebuzzoflowvoicesexclaiming, "Theprince, theprincecomes!"
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Hisspiritssanklowerandlowerashemovedbetweentheglitteringfilesofbowingcourtiers; forherecognisedthathewasindeed a captivenow, andmightremainforevershutupinthisgildedcage, a forlornandfriendlessprince, exceptGodinhismercytakepityonhimandsethimfree.