Chapter XIII. The disappearance of the Prince. Practice Quiz — The Prince and the Pauper
by Mark Twain — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter XIII. The disappearance of the Prince.
Where does Miles Hendon sleep at the beginning of Chapter 13?
Across the door on the floor, at Edward's command, to guard the entrance.
What does Miles do at dawn while Edward sleeps?
He quietly measures Edward with a string to determine his size for new clothes.
What does Miles purchase while Edward is sleeping?
A complete secondhand suit of boy's clothing — cheap but tidy and seasonally appropriate.
What does Miles do to the new clothes before waking Edward?
He mends them with needle and thread, sewing stitches to fix imperfections.
How is Edward lured away from the inn?
A youth comes claiming Miles has sent for the boy, telling Edward to meet him at the bridge-end on the Southwark side.
What does Miles discover when he finishes sewing and tries to wake Edward?
The bed is empty — Edward and his ragged clothes are both gone.
What suspicious detail does the servant recall about Edward's departure?
As Edward and the youth stepped onto London Bridge, a ruffian-looking man emerged from a hiding place and joined them.
What did the youth who came for Edward do to the bedcovers?
He arranged them to look as if someone were still lying beneath them, to deceive Miles and buy time.
Where does Miles believe Edward has been taken?
Toward Southwark, across London Bridge, based on the servant's account.
What does Miles Hendon's soliloquy while sewing reveal about his feelings for Edward?
It reveals genuine affection and tenderness — he calls Edward "little one," sings softly to avoid waking him, and looks forward to their life at Hendon Hall together.
How does Edward react to being woken by the false summons?
He grumbles about being disturbed "so early" and complains that Miles should have come himself rather than sending a stranger — showing both royal pride and trust in Miles.
Who does Miles believe is behind Edward's abduction?
The "scurvy villain" who earlier claimed to be Edward's father — John Canty, Tom Canty's abusive father.
What is Miles's reaction when he discovers Edward is gone?
He is first speechless with astonishment, then rages and storms, threatens the servant, and immediately sets out to search for the boy, vowing to "ransack the land."
How does Chapter 13 illustrate the theme of appearances versus reality?
Edward is the true King of England but is dressed in rags, making him indistinguishable from a street urchin and easy to abduct without notice.
How does the theme of loyalty function in Chapter 13?
Miles demonstrates selfless loyalty through caretaking, while Edward's trust in Miles — his only true ally — is exploited by the kidnappers who use Miles's name to lure him away.
What does the unused new suit of clothes symbolize in this chapter?
It symbolizes the gap between Miles's hopeful plans for Edward's future and the harsh reality of his situation — a new identity that never gets to be worn.
How does Chapter 13 explore the vulnerability of the powerless?
Despite being the rightful king, Edward is as easily spirited away as any common child, showing that without the trappings of power, even a monarch is defenseless.
What is the dramatic irony in Chapter 13?
The reader suspects the summons is a trap, but Edward trusts it because it comes in Miles's name — his trust, which should protect him, becomes the tool of his capture.
How does Twain use comic relief before the chapter's climax?
Miles's extended struggle with threading a needle, his fragmentary folk songs, and his cheerful monologue create a warm domestic scene that makes the shock of Edward's disappearance more jarring.
How does Twain use foreshadowing in Chapter 13?
The servant's belated recollection of a "ruffian-looking man" joining Edward and the youth hints at the dangers ahead and suggests the abduction was a coordinated scheme.
What narrative technique does Twain use at the end of Chapter 13?
A cliffhanger — Miles plunges into the crowd on London Bridge in pursuit, leaving the reader uncertain of Edward's fate and compelled to continue reading.
What does "disapparelled" mean as used in Chapter 13?
Undressed or removed the clothing from someone. Miles "disapparelled" Edward, meaning he removed the boy's clothes before putting him to bed.
Who says: "He grumbled, but he went — he went, yes, because he thought Miles Hendon asked it"?
Miles Hendon says this to himself as he searches for Edward, reflecting on how the boy's trust in him was exploited by the kidnappers.
Who says: "Dear heart, he should have been born a king! He playeth the part to a marvel"?
Miles Hendon, admiringly, after Edward commands him to sleep across the door — not realizing that Edward truly is the king.
What does Miles mean when he says: "Not lost, for I will ransack the land till I find thee again"?
He is vowing to search the entire country to find Edward, demonstrating his absolute commitment to the boy despite having no obligation to do so.