the little lame prince-第5章

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orning's　lessons　he　had　no　opportunity　of　examining　his　treasure。

When　he　did；　it　seemed　no　treasure　at　all；　but　a　mere　piece　of　clothcircular　in　form；　dark　green　in　colorthat　is；　if　it　had　any　color　at　all；　being　so　worn　and　shabby；　though　not　dirty。　It　had　a　split　cut　to　the　center；　forming　a　round　hole　for　the　neckand　that　was　all　its　shape；　the　shape；　in　fact；　of　those　cloaks　which　in　South　America　are　called　ponchosvery　simple；　but　most　graceful　and　convenient。

Prince　Dolor　had　never　seen　anything　like　it。　In　spite　of　his　disappointment；　he　examined　it　curiously；　spread　it　out　on　the　door；　then　arranged　it　on　his　shoulders。　It　felt　very　warm　and　comfortable；　but　it　was　so　exceedingly　shabbythe　only　shabby　thing　that　the　Prince　had　ever　seen　in　his　life。

〃And　what　use　will　it　be　to　me？〃　said　he　sadly。　〃I　have　no　need　of　outdoor　clothes；　as　I　never　go　out。　Why　was　this　given　me；　I　wonder？　and　what　in　the　world　am　I　to　do　with　it？　She　must　be　a　rather　funny　person；　this　dear　godmother　of　mine。〃

Nevertheless；　because　she　was　his　godmother；　and　had　given　him　the　cloak；　he　folded　it　carefully　and　put　it　away；　poor　and　shabby　as　it　was；　hiding　it　in　a　safe　corner　of　his　top　cupboard；　which　his　nurse　never　meddled　with。　He　did　not　want　her　to　find　it；　or　to　laugh　at　it　or　at　his　godmotheras　he　felt　sure　she　would；　if　she　knew　all。

There　it　lay；　and　by　and　by　he　forgot　all　about　it；　nay；　I　am　sorry　to　say　that；　being　but　a　child；　and　not　seeing　her　again；　he　almost　forgot　his　sweet　old　godmother；　or　thought　of　her　only　as　he　did　of　the　angels　or　fairies　that　he　read　of　in　his　books；　and　of　her　visit　as　if　it　had　been　a　mere　dream　of　the　night。

There　were　times；　certainly；　when　he　recalled　her：　of　early　mornings；　like　that　morning　when　she　appeared　beside　him；　and　late　evenings；　when　the　gray　twilight　reminded　him　of　the　color　of　her　hair　and　her　pretty　soft　garments；　above　all；　when；　waking　in　the　middle　of　the　night；　with　the　stars　peering　in　at　his　window；　or　the　moonlight　shining　across　his　little　bed；　he　would　not　have　been　surprised　to　see　her　standing　beside　it；　looking　at　him　with　those　beautiful　tender　eyes；　which　seemed　to　have　a　pleasantness　and　comfort　in　them　different　from　anything　he　had　ever　known。

But　she　never　came；　and　gradually　she　slipped　out　of　his　memoryonly　a　boy's　memory；　after　all；　until　something　happened　which　made　him　remember　her；　and　want　her　as　he　had　never　wanted　anything　before。

Prince　Dolor　fell　ill。　He　caughthis　nurse　could　not　tell　howa　complaint　common　to　the　people　of　Nomansland；　called　the　doldrums；　as　unpleasant　as　measles　or　any　other　of　our　complaints；　and　it　made　him　restless；　cross；　and　disagreeable。　Even　when　a　little　better；　he　was　too　weak　to　enjoy　anything；　but　lay　all　day　long　on　his　sofa；　fidgeting　his　nurse　extremely　while；　in　her　intense　terror　lest　he　might　die；　she　fidgeted　him　still　more。　At　last；　seeing　he　really　was　getting　well；　she　left　him　to　himselfwhich　he　was　most　glad　of；　in　spite　of　his　dullness　and　dreariness。　There　he　lay；　alone；　quite　alone。

Now　and　then　an　irritable　fit　came　over　him；　in　which　he　longed　to　get　up　and　do　something；　or　to　go　somewherewould　have　liked　to　imitate　his　white　kittenjump　down　from　the　tower　and　run　away；　taking　the　chance　of　whatever　might　happen。

Only　one　thing；　alas！　was　likely　to　happen；　for　the　kitten；　he　remembered；　had　four　active　legs；　while　he

〃I　wonder　what　my　godmother　meant　when　she　looked　at　my　legs　and　sighed　so　bitterly？　I　wonder　why　I　can't　walk　straight　and　steady　like　my　nurse　only　I　wouldn't　like　to　have　her　great；　noisy；　clumping　shoes。　Still　it　would　be　very　nice　to　move　about　quicklyperhaps　to　fly；　like　a　bird；　like　that　string　of　birds　I　saw　the　other　day　skimming　across　the　sky；　one　after　the　other。〃

These　were　the　passage…birdsthe　only　living　creatures　that　ever　crossed　the　lonely　plain；　and　he　had　been　much　interested　in　them；　wonder…　ing　whence　they　came　and　whither　they　were　going。

〃How　nice　it　must　be　to　be　a　bird！　If　legs　are　no　good；　why　cannot　one　have　wings？　People　have　wings　when　they　dieperhaps；　I　wish　I　were　dead；　that　I　do。　I　am　so　tired；　so　tired；　and　nobody　cares　for　me。　Nobody　ever　did　care　for　me；　except　perhaps　my　godmother。　Godmother；　dear；　have　you　quite　forsaken　me？〃

He　stretched　himself　wearily；　gathered　himself　up；　and　dropped　his　head　upon　his　hands；　as　he　did　so；　he　felt　somebody　kiss　him　at　the　back　of　his　neck；　and；　turning；　found　that　he　was　resting；　not　on　the　sofa　pillows；　but　on　a　warm　shoulderthat　of　the　little　old　woman　clothed　in　gray。

How　glad　he　was　to　see　her！　How　he　looked　into　her　kind　eyes　and　felt　her　hands；　to　see　if　she　were　all　real　and　alive！　then　put　both　his　arms　round　her　neck；　and　kissed　her　as　if　he　would　never　have　done　kissing。

〃Stop；　stop！〃　cried　she；　pretending　to　be　smothered。　〃I　see　you　have　not　forgotten　my　teachings。　Kissing　is　a　good　thingin　moderation。　Only　just　let　me　have　breath　to　speak　one　word。〃

〃A　dozen！〃　he　said。

〃Well；　then；　tell　me　all　that　has　happened　to　you　since　I　saw　youor；　rather；　since　you　saw　me；　which　is　quite　a　different　thing。〃

〃Nothing　has　happenednothing　ever　does　happen　to　me；〃　answered　the　Prince　dolefully。

〃And　are　you　very　dull；　my　boy？〃

〃So　dull　that　I　was　just　thinking　whether　I　could　not　jump　down　to　the　bottom　of　the　tower；　like　my　white　kitten。〃

〃Don't　do　that；　not　being　a　white　kitten。〃

〃I　wish　I　wereI　wish　I　were　anything　but　what　I　am。〃

〃And　you　can't　make　yourself　any　different；　nor　can　I　do　it　either。　You　must　be　content　to　stay　just　what　you　are。〃

The　little　old　woman　said　thisvery　firmly；　but　gently；　toowith　her　arms　round　his　neck　and　her　lips　on　his　forehead。　It　was　the　first　time　the　boy　had　ever　heard　any　one　talk　like　this；　and　he　looked　up　in　surprisebut　not　in　pain；　for　her　sweet　manner　softened　the　hardness　of　her　words。

〃Now；　my　Prince；for　you　are　a　prince；　and　must　behave　as　such；let　us　see　what　we　can　do；　how　much　I　can　do　for　you；　or　show　you　how　to　do　for　yourself。　Where　is　your　traveling…cloak？〃

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