the little lame prince-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


id　out；　that　he　might　have　no　more　trouble　than　could　be　helped。

〃Possibly　she　did　not　mean　to　be　cruel。　I　won't　judge　her；〃　said　he。　And　afterward　he　was　very　glad　that　he　had　so　determined。

For　the　second　time　he　tried　to　dress　himself；　and　then　to　do　everything　he　could　for　himself　even　to　sweeping　up　the　hearth　and　putting　on　more　coals。　〃It's　a　funny　thing　for　a　prince　to　have　to　do；〃　said　he；　laughing。　〃But　my　godmother　once　said　princes　need　never　mind　doing　anything。〃

And　then　he　thought　a　little　of　his　godmother。　Not　of　summoning　her；　or　asking　her　to　help　him；she　had　evidently　left　him　to　help　himself；　and　he　was　determined　to　try　his　best　to　do　it；　being　a　very　proud　and　independent　boy；　but　he　remembered　her　tenderly　and　regret…　fully；　as　if　even　she　had　been　a　little　hard　upon　himpoor；　forlorn　boy　that　he　was。　But　he　seemed　to　have　seen　and　learned　so　much　within　the　last　few　days　that　he　scarcely　felt　like　a　boy；　but　a　manuntil　he　went　to　bed　at　night。

When　I　was　a　child；　I　used　often　to　think　how　nice　it　would　be　to　live　in　a　little　house　all　by　my　own　selfa　house　built　high　up　in　a　tree；　or　far　away　in　a　forest；　or　halfway　up　a　hillside　so　deliciously　alone　and　independent。　Not　a　lesson　to　learnbut　no！　I　always　liked　learning　my　lessons。　Anyhow；　to　choose　the　lessons　I　liked　best；　to　have　as　many　books　to　read　and　dolls　to　play　with　as　ever　I　wanted：　above　all；　to　be　free　and　at　rest；　with　nobody　to　tease　or　trouble　or　scold　me；　would　be　charming。　For　I　was　a　lonely　little　thing；　who　liked　quietnessas　many　children　do；　which　other　children；　and　sometimes　grown…up　people　even；　cannot　understand。　And　so　I　can　understand　Prince　Dolor。

After　his　first　despair；　he　was　not　merely　comfortable；　but　actually　happy　in　his　solitude；　doing　everything　for　himself；　and　enjoying　everything　by　himselfuntil　bedtime。　Then　he　did　not　like　it　at　all。　No　more；　I　suppose；　than　other　children　would　have　liked　my　im…　aginary　house　in　a　tree　when　they　had　had　sufficient　of　their　own　company。

But　the　Prince　had　to　bear　itand　he　did　bear　it；　like　a　princefor　fully　five　days。　All　that　time　he　got　up　in　the　morning　and　went　to　bed　at　night　without　having　spoken　to　a　creature；　or；　indeed；　heard　a　single　sound。　For　even　his　little　lark　was　silent；　and　as　for　his　traveling…cloak；　either　he　never　thought　about　it；　or　else　it　had　been　spirited　away　for　he　made　no　use　of　it；　nor　attempted　to　do　so。

A　very　strange　existence　it　was；　those　five　lonely　days。　He　never　entirely　forgot　it。　It　threw　him　back　upon　himself；　and　into　himself　in　a　way　that　all　of　us　have　to　learn　when　we　grow　up；　and　are　the　better　for　it；　but　it　is　somewhat　hard　learning。

On　the　sixth　day　Prince　Dolor　had　a　strange　composure　in　his　look；　but　he　was　very　grave　and　thin　and　white。　He　had　nearly　come　to　the　end　of　his　provisionsand　what　was　to　happen　next？　Get　out　of　the　tower　he　could　not：　the　ladder　the　deaf…mute　used　was　always　carried　away　again；　and　if　it　had　not　been；　how　could　the　poor　boy　have　used　it？　And　even　if　he　slung　or　flung　himself　down；　and　by　miraculous　chance　came　alive　to　the　foot　of　the　tower；　how　could　he　run　away？

Fate　had　been　very　hard　to　him；　or　so　it　seemed。

He　made　up　his　mind　to　die。　Not　that　he　wished　to　die；　on　the　contrary；　there　was　a　great　deal　that　he　wished　to　live　to　do；　but　if　he　must　die；　he　must。　Dying　did　not　seem　so　very　dreadful；　not　even　to　lie　quiet　like　his　uncle；　whom　he　had　entirely　forgiven　now；　and　neither　be　miserable　nor　naughty　any　more；　and　escape　all　those　horrible　things　that　he　had　seen　going　on　outside　the　palace；　in　that　awful　place　which　was　called　〃the　world。〃

〃It's　a　great　deal　nicer　here；〃　said　the　poor　little　Prince；　and　collected　all　his　pretty　things　round　him：　his　favorite　pictures；　which　he　thought　he　should　like　to　have　near　him　when　he　died；　his　books　and　toysno；　he　had　ceased　to　care　for　toys　now；　he　only　liked　them　because　he　had　done　so　as　a　child。　And　there　he　sat　very　calm　and　patient；　like　a　king　in　his　castle；　waiting　for　the　end。

〃Still；　I　wish　I　had　done　something　first　something　worth　doing；　that　somebody　might　remember　me　by；〃　thought　he。　〃Suppose　I　had　grown　a　man；　and　had　had　work　to　do；　and　people　to　care　for；　and　was　so　useful　and　busy　that　they　liked　me；　and　perhaps　even　forgot　I　was　lame？　Then　it　would　have　been　nice　to　live；　I　think。〃

A　tear　came　into　the　little　fellow's　eyes；　and　he　listened　intently　through　the　dead　silence　for　some　hopeful　sound。

Was　there　one？was　it　his　little　lark；　whom　he　had　almost　forgotten？　No；　nothing　half　so　sweet。　But　it　really　was　somethingsomething　which　came　nearer　and　nearer；　so　that　there　was　no　mistaking　it。　It　was　the　sound　of　a　trumpet；　one　of　the　great　silver　trumpets　so　admired　in　Nomansland。　Not　pleasant　music；　but　very　bold；　grand；　and　inspiring。

As　he　listened　to　it　the　boy　seemed　to　recall　many　things　which　had　slipped　his　memory　for　years；　and　to　nerve　himself　for　whatever　might　be　going　to　happen。

What　had　happened　was　this。

The　poor　condemned　woman　had　not　been　such　a　wicked　woman　after　all。　Perhaps　her　courage　was　not　wholly　disinterested；　but　she　had　done　a　very　heroic　thing。　As　soon　as　she　heard　of　the　death　and　burial　of　the　King　and　of　the　changes　that　were　taking　place　in　the　country；　a　daring　idea　came　into　her　headto　set　upon　the　throne　of　Nomansland　its　rightful　heir。　Thereupon　she　persuaded　the　deaf…mute　to　take　her　away　with　him；　and　they　galloped　like　the　wind　from　city　to　city；　spreading　everywhere　the　news　that　Prince　Dolor's　death　and　burial　had　been　an　invention　concocted　by　his　wicked　uncle　that　he　was　alive　and　well；　and　the　noblest　young　prince　that　ever　was　born。

It　was　a　bold　stroke；　but　it　succeeded。　The　country；　weary　perhaps　of　the　late　King's　harsh　rule；　and　yet　glad　to　save　itself　from　the　horrors　of　the　last　few　days；　and　the　still　further　horrors　of　no　rule　at　all；　and　having　no　particular　interest　in　the　other　young　princes；　jumped　at　the　idea　of　this　Prince；　who　was　the　son　of　their　late　good　King　and　the　beloved　Queen　Dolorez。

〃Hurrah　for　Prince　Dolor！　Let　Prince　Dolor　be　our　sovereign！〃　rang　from　end　to　end　of　the　kingdom。　Everybody　tried　to　remember　what　a　dear　baby　he　once　washow　like　his　mother；　who　had　been　so　sweet　and　kind；　and　his　father；　the　finest…looking　king　that　ever　reigned。　Nobody　remembered　his　lameness　or；　if　they　did；　they　passed　it　over　as　a　matter　of　no　consequence。　They　were　determined　to　have　him　reign　over　them；　boy　as　he　was　perhaps　just　because　he　was　a　boy；　since　in　that　case　the　great　nobles　thought　they　should　be　able　to　do　as　they　liked　with　the　country。

Accordingly；　with　a　fickleness　not　confined　to　the　people　of　Nomansland；　no　sooner　was　the　late　King　laid　in　his　grave　than　they　pronounced　him　to　have　been　a　usurper；　turned　all　his　family　out　of　the　palace；　and　left　it　empty　for　the　reception　of　the　new　sovereign；　whom　they　went　to　fetch　with　great　rejoicing；　a　select　body　of　lords；　gentlemen；　and　soldiers　traveling　night　and　day　in　solemn　procession　through　the　country　until　they　reached　Hopeless　Tower。

There　they　found　the　Prince；　sitting　calmly　on　the　floordeadly　pale；　indeed；　for　he　expected　a　quite　different　end　from　this；　and　was　resolved；　if　he　had　to　die；　to　die　courageously；　like　a　Prince　and　a　King。

But　when　they　hailed　him　as　Prince　and　King；　and　explained　to　him　how　matters　stood；　and　went　down　on　their　knees　before　him；　offering　the　crown　（on　a　velvet　cushion；　with　four　golden　tassels；　each　nearly　as　big　as　his　head）；small　though　he　was　and　lame；　which　lameness　the　courtiers　pretended　not　to　notice；　there　came　such　a　glow　into　his　face；　such　a　dignity　into　his　demeanor；　that　he　became　beautiful；　king…like。

〃Yes；〃　he　said；　〃if　you　desire　it；　I　will　be　your　king。　And　I　will　do　my　best　to　make　my　people　happy。〃

Then　there　arose；　from　inside　and　outside　the　tower；　such　a　shout　as　never　yet　was　heard　across　the　lonely　plain。

Prince　Dolor　shrank　a　little　from　the　deafening　sound。　〃How　shall　I　be　able　to　rule　all　this　great　people？　You　forget；　my　lords；　that　I　am　only　a　little　boy　still。〃

〃Not　so　very　little；〃　was　the　respectful　answer。　〃We　have　searched　in　the　records；　and　found　that　your　Royal　Highnessyour　Majesty；　I　meanis　fifteen　years　old。〃

〃Am　I？〃　said　Prince　Dolor；　and　his　first　thought　was　a　thoroughly　childish　pleasure　that　he　should　now　have　a　birthday；　with　a　whole　nation　to　keep　it。　Then　he　remembered　that　his　childish　days　were　done。　He　was　a　monarch　now。　Even　his　nurse；　to　whom；　the　moment　he　saw　her；　he　had　held　out　his　hand；　kissed　it　reverently；　and　called　him　ceremoniously　〃his　Majesty　the　King。〃

〃A　king　must　be　always　a　king；　I　suppose；〃　said　he　half…sadly；　when；　the　ceremonies　over；　he　had　been　left　to　himself　for　just　ten　minutes；　to　put　off　his　boy's　clothes　and　be　reattired　in　magnificent　robes；　before　he　was　conveyed　away　from　his　tower　to　the　royal　palace。

He　could　take　nothing　with　him；　indeed；　he　soon　saw　that；　however　politely　they　spoke；　they　would　not　allow　him　to　take　anything。　If　he　was　to　be　their　king；　he　must　give　up　his　old　life　forever。　So　he　looked　with　tender　farewell　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　t