The Prince and the Pauper · Chapter
XIII: The Disappearance of the Prince explained
Miles Hendon cares for the sleeping king, takes his measurements, and buys him a secondhand suit of clothes.
What happens
Miles Hendon cares for the sleeping king, takes his measurements, and buys him a secondhand suit of clothes. While Hendon is sewing and planning their journey to Hendon Hall, the king is tricked into leaving with a youth who claims Hendon sent for him. Hendon discovers the boy missing, learns from a servant that a ruffian joined them on the bridge, and vows to search the land until he finds his 'poor little mad master.'
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
Hendon's emotional low point—his humiliation in the stocks and despair over his lost inheritance and reputatio…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Identity and Appearance
Hendon buys the king a new suit of clothes, symbolizing the ongoing confusion of identities and the king's hidden royalty.
- Compassion and Empathy
Hendon's tender care for the sleeping king and his grief at the boy's disappearance highlight his deep compassion.
Characters to notice
- Miles Hendon
Sews a new suit for the king, discovers the boy missing, and resolves to find him.
- Edward VI
Sleeps deeply, is tricked into leaving with a youth, and goes willingly because he thinks Miles Hendon asked it.
- John Canty
Implied as the 'ruffian-looking man' who joins the youth and the king on the bridge.
Key passages
“He threw back the covers—the boy was gone!”
Miles Hendon pulled back the bedcovers and discovered the king had vanished.
Key moment of discovery that drives the rest of the chapter.
“He grumbled, but he went—he went, yes, because he thought Miles Hendon asked it, sweet lad—he would ne'er have done it for another, I know it well.”
The king complained about being woken early, but he left because he believed Miles Hendon had sent for him, showing his trust in Hendon.
Hendon reflects on the king's loyalty, underscoring their bond.
