hereditary [hı`redıtərı], luxury [`lAkSərı], venture [`ventSə]

Poor Tom ate with his fingers mainly; but no one smiled at it, or even seemed to observe it. He inspected his napkin curiously and with deep interest, for it was of a very dainty and beautiful fabric, then said with simplicity:

'Prithee, take it away, lest in mine unheedfulness it be soiled.'

The Hereditary Diaperer took it away with reverent manner, and without word or protest of any sort.

Tom examined the turnips and the lettuce with interest, and asked what they were, and if they were to be eaten; for it was only recently that men had begun to raise these things in England in place of importing them as luxuries from Holland. His question was answered with grave respect, and no surprise manifested. When he had finished his dessert, he filled his pockets with nuts; but nobody appeared to be aware of it, or disturbed by it. But the next moment he was himself disturbed by it, and showed discomposure; for this was the only service he had been permitted to do with his own hands during the meal, and he did not doubt that he had done a most improper and unprincely thing. At that moment the muscles of his nose began to twitch, and the end of that organ to lift and wrinkle. This continued, and Tom began to evince a growing distress. He looked appealingly, first at one and then another of the lords about him, and tears came into his eyes. They sprang forward with dismay in their faces, and begged to know his trouble. Tom said with genuine anguish:

'I crave your indulgence; my nose itcheth cruelly. What is the custom and usage in this emergence? Prithee speed, for 'tis but a little time that I can bear it.'

None smiled; but all were sore perplexed, and looked one to the other in deep tribulation for counsel. But, behold, here was a dead wall, and nothing in English history to tell how to get over it. The Master of Ceremonies was not present; there was no one who felt safe to venture upon this uncharted sea, or risk the attempt to solve this solemn problem. Alas! there was no Hereditary Scratcher. Meantime the tears had overflowed their banks, and begun to trickle down Tom's cheeks. His twitching nose was pleading more urgently than ever for relief. At last nature broke down the barriers of etiquette; Tom lifted up an inward prayer for pardon if he was doing wrong, and brought relief to the burdened hearts of his court by scratching his nose himself.

His meal being ended (когда его трапеза окончилась: «его трапеза будучи оконченной»), a lord came and held before him a broad, shallow, golden dish with fragrant rose-water in it (один лорд подошел и держал перед ним = поднес ему широкое, плоское золотое блюдо с благоухающей розовой водой в нем), to cleanse his mouth and fingers with (чтобы очистить его рот и пальцы (ею); with — с); and my lord the Hereditary Diaperer stood by with a napkin for his use (а милорд Наследственный Подвязыватель салфеток стоял рядом с салфеткой для его использования = чтобы он мог ей воспользоваться). Tom gazed at the dish a puzzled moment or two (Том смотрел на блюдо в замешательстве минуту-другую: «один или два смущенных момента»), then raised it to his lips (затем поднял его к своим губам), and gravely took a draught (и серьезно сделал глоток; to take — брать). Then he returned it to the waiting lord, and said (затем он вернул его прислуживающему лорду и сказал):

'Nay, it likes me not, my lord (нет, это мне не нравится, милорд); it hath a pretty flavor (она имеет приятный аромат), but it wanteth strength (но ей недостает силы = насыщенности).'

This new eccentricity (эта новая эксцентричная выходка) of the prince's ruined mind (поврежденного разума принца) made all the hearts about him ache (заставило все сердца вокруг него заболеть); but the sad sight moved none to merriment (но это грустное зрелище ни в ком не вызвало веселья).

Tom's next unconscious blunder (следующим невольным: «бессознательным» промахом Тома) was to get up and leave the table (было встать и покинуть стол) just when the chaplain had taken his stand behind his chair (как раз когда капеллан занял свое место за его стулом) and with uplifted hands (и с поднятыми руками) and closed uplifted eyes (и закрытыми поднятыми глазами), was in the act of beginning the blessing (был в начале благодарственной молитвы). Still nobody seemed to perceive (все же никто, казалось, не заметил) that the prince had done a thing unusual (что принц сделал что-то необычное).

By his own request (по его собственной просьбе), our small friend was now conducted to his private cabinet (нашего маленького друга затем отвели в его личный кабинет), and left there alone to his own devices (и оставили там одного забавляться; device — прибор; затея). Hanging upon hooks (висевшие на крюках) in the oaken wainscoting (на дубовых деревянных панелях) were the several pieces (были несколько элементов) of a suit of shining steel armor (сияющей стальной брони; suit — костюм), covered all over with beautiful designs exquisitely inlaid in gold (покрытые целиком прекрасными узорами, искусно выложенные золотом). This martial panoply (эти военные доспехи) belonged to the true prince (принадлежали настоящему принцу) — a recent present from Madam Parr, the queen (недавний подарок от мадам Парр, королевы). Tom put on the greaves (Том надел наголенники; to put on — надевать), the gauntlets (латные рукавицы), the plumed helmet (шлем с плюмажем; plume — перо, плюмаж), and such other pieces as he could don without assistance (и подобные прочие детали, которые он мог надеть без /посторонней/ помощи; to don — надевать /устар./), and for a while was minded (и некоторое время был настроен) to call for help (попросить о помощи; to call — звать) and complete the matter (и довести дело до конца), but bethought him of the nuts he had brought away from dinner (но напомнил себе = вспомнил об орехах, которые он унес с ужина; to bethink — напоминать, вспоминать; to bring — приносить), and the joy it would be to eat them (и о радости, которая была бы съесть их) with no crowd to eye him (без толпы, (которая бы) глазела на него), and no Grand Hereditaries to pester him with undesired services (и без великих наследников, (которые бы) докучали ему непрошенными услугами); so he restored the pretty things to their several places (так что он поставил эти красивые вещи обратно на их места; to restore — восстанавливать; several — несколько), and soon was cracking nuts (и скоро щелкал орехи), and feeling almost naturally happy for the first time (и чувствовал себя почти естественно = по-настоящему счастливым в первый раз) since God for his sins had made him a prince (с тех пор как Бог за его грехи сделал его принцем). When the nuts were all gone (когда все орехи кончились; to go — идти, уходить, исчезать), he stumbled upon some inviting books (он наткнулся на некоторые книги с привлекательными названиями: «приглашающие книги»; to invite — приглашать) in a closet (в шкафу), among them one about the etiquette of the English court (среди них одна об этикете английского двора). This was a prize (это была удачная находка). He lay down upon a sumptuous divan (он лег на роскошный диван; to lie down — ложиться), and proceeded to instruct himself with honest zeal (и принялся обучать себя с честным рвением). Let us leave him there for the present (оставим его там пока).

wainscoting [`weınskətıŋ], unusual [An`ju:Zuəl], proceed [prə`si:d]

His meal being ended, a lord came and held before him a broad, shallow, golden dish with fragrant rose-water in it, to cleanse his mouth and fingers with; and my lord the Hereditary Diaperer stood by with a napkin for his use. Tom gazed at the dish a puzzled moment or two, then raised it to his lips, and gravely took a draught. Then he returned it to the waiting lord, and said: