the little lame prince-第6部分

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Prince　Dolor　blushed　extremely。　〃II　put　it　away　in　the　cupboard；　I　suppose　it　is　there　still。〃

〃You　have　never　used　it；　you　dislike　it？〃

He　hesitated；　no；　wishing　to　be　impolite。　〃Don't　you　think　it'sjust　a　little　old　and　shabby　for　a　prince？〃

The　old　woman　laughedlong　and　loud；　though　very　sweetly。

〃Prince；　indeed！　Why；　if　all　the　princes　in　the　world　craved　for　it；　they　couldn't　get　it；　unless　I　gave　it　them。　Old　and　shabby！　It's　the　most　valuable　thing　imaginable！　Very　few　ever　have　it；　but　I　thought　I　would　give　it　to　you；　becausebecause　you　are　different　from　other　people。〃

〃Am　I？〃　said　the　Prince；　and　looked　first　with　curiosity；　then　with　a　sort　of　anxiety；　into　his　godmother's　face；　which　was　sad　and　grave；　with　slow　tears　beginning　to　steal　down。

She　touched　his　poor　little　legs。　〃These　are　not　like　those　of　other　little　boys。〃

〃Indeed！my　nurse　never　told　me　that。〃

〃Very　likely　not。　But　it　is　time　you　were　told；　and　I　tell　you；　because　I　love　you。〃

〃Tell　me　what；　dear　godmother？〃

〃That　you　will　never　be　able　to　walk　or　run　or　jump　or　playthat　your　life　will　be　quite　different　from　most　people's　lives；　but　it　may　be　a　very　happy　life　for　all　that。　Do　not　be　afraid。〃

〃I　am　not　afraid；〃　said　the　boy；　but　he　turned　very　pale；　and　his　lips　began　to　quiver；　though　he　did　not　actually　cryhe　was　too　old　for　that；　and；　perhaps；　too　proud。

Though　not　wholly　comprehending；　he　began　dimly　to　guess　what　his　godmother　meant。　He　had　never　seen　any　real　live　boys；　but　he　had　seen　pictures　of　them　running　and　jumping；　which　he　had　admired　and　tried　hard　to　imitate　but　always　failed。　Now　he　began　to　understand　why　he　failed；　and　that　he　always　should　fail　that；　in　fact；　he　was　not　like　other　little　boys；　and　it　was　of　no　use　his　wishing　to　do　as　they　did；　and　play　as　they　played；　even　if　he　had　had　them　to　play　with。　His　was　a　separate　life；　in　which　he　must　find　out　new　work　and　new　pleasures　for　himself。

The　sense　of　THE　INEVITABLE；　as　grown…up　people　call　itthat　we　cannot　have　things　as　we　want　them　to　be；　but　as　they　are；　and　that　we　must　learn　to　bear　them　and　make　the　best　of　themthis　lesson；　which　everybody　has　to　learn　soon　or　latecame；　alas！　sadly　soon；　to　the　poor　boy。　He　fought　against　it　for　a　while；　and　then；　quite　overcome；　turned　and　sobbed　bitterly　in　his　godmother's　arms。

She　comforted　himI　do　not　know　how；　except　that　love　always　comforts；　and　then　she　whispered　to　him；　in　her　sweet；　strong；　cheerful　voice：　〃Never　mind！〃

〃No；　I　don't　think　I　do　mindthat　is；　I　WON'T　mind；〃　replied　he；　catching　the　courage　of　her　tone　and　speaking　like　a　man；　though　he　was　still　such　a　mere　boy。

〃That　is　right；　my　Prince！that　is　being　like　a　prince。　Now　we　know　exactly　where　we　are；　let　us　put　our　shoulders　to　the　wheel　and〃

〃We　are　in　Hopeless　Tower〃　（this　was　its　name；　if　it　had　a　name）；　〃and　there　is　no　wheel　to　put　our　shoulders　to；〃　said　the　child　sadly。

〃You　little　matter…of…fact　goose！　Well　for　you　that　you　have　a　godmother　called〃

〃What？〃　he　eagerly　asked。

〃Stuff…and…nonsense。〃

〃Stuff…and…nonsense！　What　a　funny　name！〃

〃Some　people　give　it　me；　but　they　are　not　my　most　intimate　friends。　These　call　menever　mind　what；〃　added　the　old　woman；　with　a　soft　twinkle　in　her　eyes。　〃So　as　you　know　me；　and　know　me　well；　you　may　give　me　any　name　you　please；　it　doesn't　matter。　But　I　am　your　godmother；　child。　I　have　few　godchildren；　those　I　have　love　me　dearly；　and　find　me　the　greatest　blessing　in　all　the　world。〃

〃I　can　well　believe　it；〃　cried　the　little　lame　Prince；　and　forgot　his　troubles　in　looking　at　heras　her　figure　dilated；　her　eyes　grew　lustrous　as　stars；　her　very　raiment　brightened；　and　the　whole　room　seemed　filled　with　her　beautiful　and　beneficent　presence　like　light。

He　could　have　looked　at　her　foreverhalf　in　love；　half　in　awe；　but　she　suddenly　dwindled　down　into　the　little　old　woman　all　in　gray；　and；　with　a　malicious　twinkle　in　her　eyes；　asked　for　the　traveling…cloak。

〃Bring　it　out　of　the　rubbish　cupboard；　and　shake　the　dust　off　it；　quick！〃　said　she　to　Prince　Dolor；　who　hung　his　head；　rather　ashamed。　〃Spread　it　out　on　the　floor；　and　wait　till　the　split　closes　and　the　edges　turn　up　like　a　rim　all　round。　Then　go　and　open　the　skylight；mind；　I　say　OPEN　THE　SKYLIGHT；set　yourself　down　in　the　middle　of　it；　like　a　frog　on　a　water…lily　leaf；　say　‘Abracadabra；　dum　dum　dum；'　andsee　what　will　happen！〃

The　Prince　burst　into　a　fit　of　laughing。　It　all　seemed　so　exceedingly　silly；　he　wondered　that　a　wise　old　woman　like　his　godmother　should　talk　such　nonsense。

〃Stuff…and…nonsense；　you　mean；〃　said　she；　answering；　to　his　great　alarm；　his　unspoken　thoughts。　〃Did　I　not　tell　you　some　people　called　me　by　that　name？　Never　mind；　it　doesn't　harm　me。〃

And　she　laughedher　merry　laughas　child…　like　as　if　she　were　the　Prince's　age　instead　of　her　own；　whatever　that　might　be。　She　certainly　was　a　most　extraordinary　old　woman。

〃Believe　me　or　not；　it　doesn't　matter；〃　said　she。　〃Here　is　the　cloak：　when　you　want　to　go　traveling　on　it；　say　‘Abracadabra；　dum；　dum；　dum'；　when　you　want　to　come　back　again；　say　‘Abracadabra；　tum　tum　ti。'　That's　all；　good…by。〃

A　puff　of　most　pleasant　air　passing　by　him。　and　making　him　feel　for　the　moment　quite　strong　and　well；　was　all　the　Prince　was　conscious　of。　His　most　extraordinary　godmother　was　gone。

〃Really　now；　how　rosy　your　Royal　Highness'　cheeks　have　grown！　You　seem　to　have　got　well　already；〃　said　the　nurse；　entering　the　room。

〃I　think　I　have；〃　replied　the　Prince　very　gentlyhe　felt　gently　and　kindly　even　to　his　grim　nurse。　〃And　now　let　me　have　my　dinner；　and　go　you　to　your　sewing　as　usual。〃

The　instant　she　was　gone；　however；　taking　with　her　the　plates　and　dishes；　which　for　the　first　time　since　his　illness　he　had　satisfactorily　cleared；　Prince　Dolor　sprang　down　from　his　sofa；　and　with　one　or　two　of　his　frog…like　jumps　reached　the　cupboard　where　he　kept　his　toys；　and　looked　everywhere　for　his　traveling…cloak。

Alas！　it　was　not　there。

While　he　was　ill　of　the　doldrums；　his　nurse；　thinking　it　a　good　opportunity　for　putting　things　to　rights；　had　made　a　grand　clearance　of　all　his　〃rubbish〃as　she　considered　it：　his　beloved　headless　horses；　broken　carts；　sheep　without　feet；　and　birds　without　wingsall　the　treasures　of　his　baby　days；　which　he　could　not　bear　to　part　with。　Though　he　seldom　played　with　them　now；　he　liked　just　to　feel　they　were　there。

They　were　all　gone　and　with　them　the　traveling…cloak。　He　sat　down　on　the　floor；　looking　at　the　empty　shelves；　so　beautifully　clean　and　tidy；　then　burst　out　sobbing　as　if　his　heart　would　break。

But　quietlyalways　quietly。　He　never　let　his　nurse　hear　him　cry。　She　only　laughed　at　him；　as　he　felt　she　would　laugh　now。

〃And　it　is　all　my　own　fault！〃　he　cried。　〃I　ought　to　have　taken　better　care　of　my　godmother's　gift。　Oh；　godmother；　forgive　me！　I'll　never　be　so　careless　again。　I　don't　know　what　the　cloak　is　exactly；　but　I　am　sure　it　is　something　precious。　Help　me　to　find　it　again。　Oh；　don't　let　it　be　stolen　from　medon't；　please！〃

〃Ha；　ha；　ha！〃　laughed　a　silvery　voice。　〃Why；　that　traveling…cloak　is　the　one　thing　in　the　world　which　nobody　can　steal。　It　is　of　no　use　to　anybody　except　the　owner。　Open　your　eyes；　my　Prince；　and　see　what　you　shall　see。〃

His　dear　old　godmother；　he　thought；　and　turned　eagerly　round。　But　no；　he　only　beheld；　lying　in　a　corner　of　the　room；　all　dust　and　cobwebs；　his　precious　traveling…cloak。

Prince　Dolor　darted　toward　it；　tumbling　several　times　on　the　way；　as　he　often　did　tumble；　poor　boy！　and　pick　himself　up　again；　never　complaining。　Snatching　it　to　his　breast；　he　hugged　and　kissed　it；　cobwebs　and　all；　as　if　it　had　been　something　alive。　Then　he　began　unrolling　it；　wondering　each　minute　what　would　happen。　What　did　happen　was　so　curious　that　I　must　leave　it　for　another　chapter。



CHAPTER　V

If　any　reader；　big　or　little；　should　wonder　whether　there　is　a　meaning　in　this　story　deeper　than　that　of　an　ordinary　fairy　tale；　I　will　own　that　there　is。　But　I　have　hidden　it　so　carefully　that　the　smaller　people；　and　many　larger　folk；　will　never　find　it　out；　and　meantime　the　book　may　be　read　straight　on；　like　〃Cinderella；〃　or　〃Blue…Beard；〃　or　〃Hop…o'…　my…Thumb；〃　for　what　interest　it　has；　or　what　amusement　it　may　bring。

Having　said　this；　I　return　to　Prince　Dolor；　that　little　lame　boy　whom　many　may　think　so　exceedingly　to　be　pitied。　But　if　you　had　seen　him　as　he　sat　patiently　untying　his　wonderful　cloak；　which　was　done　up　in　a　very　tight　and　perplexing　parcel；　using　skillfully　his　deft　little　hands；　and　knitting　his　brows　with　firm　determination；　while　his　eyes　glistened　with　pleasure　and　energy　and　eager　anticipationif　you　had　beheld　him　thus；　you　might　have　changed　your　opinion。

When　we　see　people　suffering　or　unfortunate；　we　feel　very　sorry　for　them；　but　when　we　see　them　bravely　bearing　their　sufferings　and　making　the　best　of　their　misfortunes；　it　is　quite　a　different　feeling。　We　respect；　we　admire　them。　One　can　respect　and　admire　even　a　little　child。

When　Prince　Dolor　had　patiently　untied　all　the　knots；　a　remarkable　thing　happened。　The　cloak　began　to　undo　itself。　Slowly　unfolding；　it　laid　itself　down　on　the　carpet；　as　flat　as　if　it　had　been　ironed；　the　split　joined　with　a　little　sharp　crick…crack；　and　the　rim　turned　up　all　round　till　it　was　breast…high；　for　meantime　the　cloak　had　grown　and　grown；　and　become　quite　large　enough　for　one　person　to　sit　in　it　as　comfortable　as　if　in　a　boat。

The　Prince　watched　it　rather　anxiously；　it　was　such　an　extraordinary；　not　to　say　a　frightening；　thing。　However；　he　was　no　coward；　but　a　thorough　boy；　who；　if　he　had　been　like　other　boys；　would　doubtless　have　grown　up　daring　and　adventurousa　soldier；　a　sailor；　or　the　like。　As　it　was；　he　could　only　show　his　courage　morally；　not　physically；　by　being　afraid　of　nothing；　and　by　doing　boldly　all　that　it　was　in　his　narrow　powers　to　do。　And　I　am　not　sure　but　that　in　this　way　he　showed　more　real　valor　than　if　he　had　had　six　pairs　of　proper　legs。

He　said　to　himself：　〃What　a　goose　I　am　！　As　if　my　dear　godmother　would　ever　have　given　me　anything　to　hurt　me。　Here　goes！〃

So；　with　one　of　his　active　leaps；　he　sprang　right　into　the　middle　of　the　cloak；　where　he　squatted　down；　wrapping　his　arms　tight　round　his　kn