The Prince and the Pauper
Chapter XVIII. The Prince with the Tramps.
The troop of vagabonds turned out at early dawn, and set
forward on their march. There was a lowering sky overhead, sloppy ground
under foot, and a winter chill in the air. All gaiety was gone from the
company; some were sullen and silent, some were irritable and petulant, none
were gentle-humoured, all were thirsty.
The Ruffler put 'Jack' in Hugo's charge, with some brief
instructions, and commanded John Canty to keep away from him and let him alone;
he also warned Hugo not to be too rough with the lad.
After a while the weather grew milder, and the clouds lifted
somewhat. The troop ceased to shiver, and their spirits began to improve.
They grew more and more cheerful, and finally began to chaff each other and
insult passengers along the highway. This showed that they were awaking
to an appreciation of life and its joys once more. The dread in which
their sort was held was apparent in the fact that everybody gave them the road,
and took their ribald insolences meekly, without venturing to talk back. They
snatched linen from the hedges, occasionally in full view of the owners, who
made no protest, but only seemed grateful that they did not take the hedges,
too.
By-and-by they invaded a small farmhouse and made themselves
at home while the trembling farmer and his people swept the larder clean to
furnish a breakfast for them. They chucked the housewife and her
daughters under the chin whilst receiving the food from their hands, and made
coarse jests about them, accompanied with insulting epithets and bursts of
horse-laughter. They threw bones and vegetables at the farmer and his
sons, kept them dodging all the time, and applauded uproariously when a good
hit was made. They ended by buttering the head of one of the daughters who
resented some of their familiarities. When they took their leave they
threatened to come back and burn the house over the heads of the family if any
report of their doings got to the ears of the authorities.
About noon, after a long and weary tramp, the gang came to a
halt behind a hedge on the outskirts of a considerable village. An hour
was allowed for rest, then the crew scattered themselves abroad to enter the
village at different points to ply their various trades—'Jack' was sent with
Hugo. They wandered hither and thither for some time, Hugo watching for
opportunities to do a stroke of business, but finding none—so he finally said—
"I see nought to steal; it is a paltry place.
Wherefore we will beg."
"We, forsooth! Follow thy trade—it befits
thee. But I will not beg."
"Thou'lt not beg!" exclaimed Hugo, eyeing the King
with surprise. "Prithee, since when hast thou reformed?"
"What dost thou mean?"
"Mean? Hast thou not begged the streets of London
all thy life?"
"I? Thou idiot!"
