The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain Chapter 2 Tom meets the prince My mother and my sisters are very kind,' said Tom. 'I have got sisters, too,' said the prince. 'They are called Lady Elizabeth and Lady Mary. I have also got a cousin called Lady Jane Grey. Lady Elizabeth and Lady Jane are very nice but Lady Mary is not. She gets very angry with her servants. Do your sisters get angry with their servants?' 'They haven't got any servants,' replied Tom. 'Then who helps them to get dressed?' asked the prince. 'We all get dressed ourselves and we don't have many clothes,' said Tom. The prince did not understand. How could people get dressed themselves? A servant always helped him. 'You can have one of my servants,' he said 'I will also give you and your sisters lots of new clothes. Do not thank me. It is nothing.' 'That is very kind of you, sir,' said Tom. 'You speak very well. Where do you go to school?' the prince went on. 'I don't go to school,' Tom said 'A good man called Father Andrew taught me to read and write.' The prince smiled. 'I have got a teacher as well,' he said. 'Tell me about your home. Are you happy there?' Tom thought about Offal Court. 'Yes,' he said 'Sometimes there are puppet shows and plays in the street. I play with my friends and sometimes we play a game where we hit each other with wooden swords for fun.' 'That sounds wonderful!' the prince said. 'In summer,' continued Tom, 'we go swimming in the river. We also dance and we play in the mud.' 'Excellent!' replied the prince happily. 'I'd really like to wear your clothes, see a puppet show, play with friends and swim in the river! Sometimes I get very bored here.' 'Well,' said Tom, 'I'd really like to dress like a prince!' 'Really?' said the prince 'Well, we'll swap clothes! I'll wear your clothes and you can wear mine!' A few minutes later, Tom was wearing the prince's expensive clothes and the hat with purple feathers. The prince was wearing Tom's dirty old rags. 'Look in the mirror,' said the prince. Tom looked and he was very surprised. 'We have got the same eyes,' continued the prince, 'We have got the same hair. We have even got the same face!’ It was true. The two boys looked exactly the same. They were like twins.
Chapter 2: Tom meets the prince
In this chapter, Tom, a poor boy from Offal Court, meets the prince for the first time. They start a conversation about their families and lives. Tom mentions that he has sisters but no servants, which confuses the prince as he always has servants to help him get dressed. The prince kindly offers Tom one of his own servants and new clothes for him and his sisters.
Tom mentions that he doesn't go to school but has been taught by Father Andrew. This surprises the prince, who reveals that he also has a teacher. The prince asks Tom about his home, and Tom describes Offal Court, mentioning the puppet shows, plays, and games they play in the street. The prince finds it wonderful and admits that he gets bored at his own home.
Tom suggests that they swap clothes, and they quickly exchange outfits. Tom is amazed when he looks in the mirror and realizes how similar they look. The boys discover that they have the same eyes, hair, and even the same face, making them look like twins.
This chapter sets the stage for the switch between the prince and Tom, as they start to realize their uncanny resemblance to each other. Their curiosity and desire to experience each other's lives begin to grow.
