The Prince and The Pauper by Mark Twain Chapter 28 Page 6

removed from the stocks, and his back laid bare; and whilst the lash was applied the poor little King turned away his face and allowed unroyal tears to channel his cheeks unchecked.

“Ah, brave good heart,” he said to himself, “this loyal deed shall never perish out of my memory. I will not forget it — and neither shall they!” he added, with passion. Whilst he mused, his appreciation of Hendon’s magnanimous conduct grew to greater and still greater dimensions in his mind, and so also did his gratefulness for it. Presently he said to himself, “Who saves his prince from wounds and possible death — and this he did for me — performs high service; but it is little — it is nothing — oh, less than nothing! — when ’tis weighed against the act of him who saves his prince from shame!”