the little lame prince-第14部分
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on his old books； old toys； the furniture he knew so well； and the familiar plain in all its levelness ugly yet pleasant； simply because it was familiar。
〃It will be a new life in a new world；〃 said he to himself； 〃but I'll remember the old things still。 And； oh！ if before I go I could but once see my dear old godmother。〃
While he spoke he had laid himself down on the bed for a minute or two； rather tired with his grandeur； and confused by the noise of the trumpets which kept playing incessantly down below。 He gazed； half sadly； up to the skylight； whence there came pouring a stream of sunrays； with innumerable motes floating there； like a bridge thrown between heaven and earth。 Sliding down it； as if she had been made of air； came the little old woman in gray。
So beautiful looked sheold as she wasthat Prince Dolor was at first quite startled by the apparition。 Then he held out his arms in eager delight。
〃Oh； godmother； you have not forsaken me！〃
〃Not at all； my son。 You may not have seen me； but I have seen you many a time。〃
〃How？〃
〃Oh； never mind。 I can turn into anything I please； you know。 And I have been a bearskin rug； and a crystal gobletand sometimes I have changed from inanimate to animate nature； put on feathers； and made myself very comfortable as a bird。〃
〃Ha！〃 laughed the prince； a new light breaking in upon him as he caught the infection｛sic｝ of her tone； lively and mischievous。 〃Ha！ ha！ a lark； for instance？〃
〃Or a magpie；〃 answered she； with a capital imitation of Mistress Mag's croaky voice。 〃Do you suppose I am always sentimental； and never funny？ If anything makes you happy； gay； or grave； don't you think it is more than likely to come through your old godmother？〃
〃I believe that；〃 said the boy tenderly； holding out his arms。 They clasped one another in a close embrace。
Suddenly Prince Dolor looked very anxious。 〃You will not leave me now that I am a king？ Otherwise I had rather not be a king at all。 Promise never to forsake me！〃
The little old woman laughed gayly。 〃Forsake you？ that is impossible。 But it is just possible you may forsake me。 Not probable though。 Your mother never did； and she was a queen。 The sweetest queen in all the world was the Lady Dolorez。〃
〃Tell me about her；〃 said the boy eagerly。 〃As I get older I think I can understand more。 Do tell me。〃
〃Not now。 You couldn't hear me for the trumpets and the shouting。 But when you are come to the palace； ask for a long…closed upper room； which looks out upon the Beautiful Mountains； open it and take it for your own。 Whenever you go there you will always find me； and we will talk together about all sorts of things。〃
〃And about my mother？〃
The little old woman noddedand kept nodding and smiling to herself many times； as the boy repeated over and over again the sweet words he had never known or understood〃my mothermy mother。〃
〃Now I must go；〃 said she； as the trumpets blared louder and louder； and the shouts of the people showed that they would not endure any delay。 〃Good…by； good…by！ Open the window and out I fly。〃
Prince Dolor repeated gayly the musical rhymebut all the while tried to hold his godmother fast。
Vain； vain！ for the moment that a knocking was heard at his door the sun went behind a cloud； the bright stream of dancing motes vanished； and the little old woman with them he knew not where。
So Prince Dolor quitted his towerwhich he had entered so mournfully and ignominiously as a little helpless baby carried in the deaf…mute's armsquitted it as the great King of Nomansland。
The only thing he took away with him was something so insignificant that none of the lords； gentlemen； and soldiers who escorted him with such triumphant splendor could possibly notice ita tiny bundle； which he had found lying on the floor just where the bridge of sunbeams had rested。 At once he had pounced upon it； and thrust it secretly into his bosom； where it dwin… dled into such small proportions that it might have been taken for a mere chest…comforter； a bit of flannel； or an old pocket…handkerchief。 It was his traveling…cloak！
CHAPTER X
Did Prince Dolar become a great king？ Was he； though little more than a boy； 〃the father of his people；〃 as all kings ought to be？ Did his reign last longlong and happy？ and what were the principal events of it； as chronicled in the history of Nomansland？
Why； if I were to answer all these questions I should have to write another book。 And I'm tired； children； tiredas grown…up people sometimes are； though not always with play。 （Besides； I have a small person belonging to me； who； though she likes extremely to listen to the word…of…mouth story of this book； grumbles much at the writing of it； and has run about the house clapping her hands with joy when mamma told her that it was nearly finished。 But that is neither here nor there。）
I have related as well as I could the history of Prince Dolor； but with the history of Nomansland I am as yet unacquainted。 If anybody knows it； perhaps he or she will kindly write it all down in another book。 But mine is done。
However； of this I am sure； that Prince Dolor made an excellent king。 Nobody ever does anything less well； not even the commonest duty of common daily life； for having such a godmother as the little old woman clothed in gray； whose name iswell； I leave you to guess。 Nor； I think； is anybody less good； less capable of both work and enjoyment in after…life； for having been a little unhappy in his youth； as the prince had been。
I cannot take upon myself to say that he was always happy nowwho is？or that he had no cares； just show me the person who is quite free from them！ But whenever people worried and bothered himas they did sometimes； with state etiquette； state squabbles； and the like； setting up themselves and pulling down their neighbors he would take refuge in that upper room which looked out on the Beautiful Mountains； and； laying his head on his godmother's shoulder； become calmed and at rest。
Also； she helped him out of any difficulty which now and then occurredfor there never was such a wise old woman。 When the people of Nomansland raised the alarmas sometimes they didfor what people can exist without a little fault…finding？and began to cry out； 〃Un… happy is the nation whose king is a child；〃 she would say to him gently； 〃You are a child。 Accept the fact。 Be humblebe teachable。 Lean upon the wisdom of others till you have gained your own。〃
He did so。 He learned how to take advice before attempting to give it； to obey before he could righteously command。 He assembled round him all the good and wise of his kingdom laid all its affairs before them； and was guided by their opinions until he had maturely formed his own。
This he did sooner than anybody would have imagined who did not know of his godmother and his traveling…cloaktwo secret blessings； which； though many guessed at； nobody quite understood。 Nor did they understand why he loved so the little upper room； except that it had been his mother's room； from the window of which； as people remembered now； she had used to sit for hours watching the Beautiful Mountains。
Out of that window he used to flynot very often； as he grew older； the labors of state prevented the frequent use of his traveling…cloak； still he did use it sometimes。 Only now it was less for his own pleasure and amusement than to see something or investigate something for the good of the country。 But he prized his godmother's gift as dearly as ever。 It was a comfort to him in all his vexations； an enhancement of all his joys。 It made him almost forget his lamenesswhich was never cured。
However； the cruel things which had been once foreboded of him did not happen。 His misfortune was not such a heavy one； after all。 It proved to be of much less inconvenience； even to himself； than had been feared。 A council of eminent surgeons and mechanicians invented for him a wonderful pair of crutches； with the help of which； though he never walked easily or gracefully； he did manage to walk so as to be quite independent。 And such was the love his people bore him that they never heard the sound of his crutches on the marble palace floors without a leap of the heart； for they knew that good
was coming to them whenever he approached。
Thus； though he never walked in processions； never reviewed his troops mounted on a magnificent charger； nor did any of the things which make a show monarch so much appreciated； he was able for all the duties and a great many of the pleasures of his rank。 When he held his levees； not standing； but seated on a throne in… geniously contrived to hide his infirmity； the people thronged to greet him； when he drove out through the city streets； shouts followed him wherever he wentevery countenance brightened as he passed； and his own； perhaps； was the brightest of all。
First； because； accepting his affliction as inevitable； he took it patiently； second； because； being a brave man； he bore it bravely； trying to forget himself； and live out of himself； and in and for other people。 Therefore other people grew to love him so well that I think hundreds of his subjects might have been found who were almost ready to die for their poor lame king。
He never gave them a queen。 When they implored him to choose one； he replied that his country was his bride； and he desired no other。 But perhaps the real reason was that he shrank from any change； and that no wife in all the world would have been found so perfect； so lovable； so tender to him in all his weaknesses as his beautiful old godmother。
His twenty…four other godfathers and godmothers； or as many of them as were still alive； crowded round him as soon as he ascended the throne。 He was very civil to them all； but adopted none of the names they had given him； keeping to the one by which he had been always known； though it had now almost lost its meaning； for King Dolor was one of the happiest and cheerfulest men alive。
He did a good many things； however； unlike most men and most kings； which a little astonished his subjects。 First； he pardoned the condemned woman who had been his nurse； and ordained that from henceforth there should be no such thing as the punishment of death in Nomansland。 All capital crimina
