Chapter 13

" THE KING IS DEAD! -LONG LIVE THE KING! "

That same morning Tom Canty opened his eyes when it was still dark. He lay silent a few minutes, then suddenly cried out happily:

" Nan, Bet, come here! Be quick! I shall tell you a wonderful story. Nan, I say! Bet! "

A voice near him said: " What will be your commands, your majesty? "

" Commands? Oh, poor me. Say — who am I? "

" Last night you were the Prince of Wales; today you are Edward, King of England. "

Tom hid his head among the pillows and said almost crying:

" So it was not a dream? Oh, poor me, poor me! " He slept again, and after a time he had a pleasant dream. In his dream he went home quite happy. His dear mother kissed him and said:

" It is late — perhaps you will get up, your majesty? "

Ah! They were not the words he was waiting for.

He opened his eyes — it was not his mother, but the richly dressed First Lord of the Bedchamber; he was standing on his knees by Tom's bed. The poor boy remembered that he was still a king. The room was full of lords.

Then the ceremony of dressing began. After that, washing began, then hairdressing, and at last Tom was ready, as pretty as a girl, in his beautiful clothes and cap.

After breakfast Tom was led to the throne-room, where he had to busy himself with some questions of state. His " uncle", Lord Hertford, stood by the throne to help him if he needed his help. The work went slowly. All kinds of state documents were read, and at last poor Tom said to himself:

" What have I done that I am shut up here and made a king, and may not see the fields and the sunshine? "

Then his poor head dropped and he fell asleep.

Everybody stood in silence around the sleeping child, and the business of the state stopped.

1. Answer the questions.

1) What did Tom Canty do at that same morning?

2) What dream did he see?

3) Did Tom Canty want to become the king?

4) What did he say to himself about that?

5) Why did the business of the state stop?

2. Make a list of persons in this chapter.

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