the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第7章
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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。
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The Little Lame Prince
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
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The Little Lame Prince
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。
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The Little Lame Prince
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
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The Little Lame Prince
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 knees；
for they shook a little and his heart beat fast。 But there he sat； steady and
silent； waiting for what might happen next。
Nothing did happen； and he began to think nothing would； and to feel
rather disappointed； when he recollected the words he had been told to
repeat〃Abracadabra； dum dum dum！〃
He repeated them； laughing all the while； they seemed such nonsense。
And thenand then
Now I don't expect anybody to believe what I am going to relate；
though a good many wise people have believed a good many sillier things。
And as seeing's believing； and I never saw it； I cannot be expected
implicitly to believe it myself； except in a sort of a way； and yet there is
truth in itfor some people。
The cloak rose； slowly and steadily； at first only a few inches； then
gradually higher and higher； till it nearly touched the skylight。 Prince
Dolor's head actually bumped against the glass； or would have done so had
he not crouched down； crying 〃Oh； please don't hurt me！〃 in a most
melancholy voice。
Then he suddenly remembered his godmother's express command
〃Open the skylight！〃
Regaining his courage at once； without a moment's delay he lifted up
his head and began searching for the boltthe cloak meanwhile remaining
perfectly still； balanced in the air。 But the minute the window was opened；
out it sailedright out into the clear； fresh air； with nothing between it and
the cloudless blue。
Prince Dolor had never felt any such delicious sensation before。 I can
understand it。 Cannot you？ Did you never think； in watching the rooks
going home singly or in pairs； soaring their way across the calm evening
sky till they vanish like black dots in the misty gray； how pleasant it must
feel to be up there； quite out of the noise and din of the world； able to hear
and see everything down below； yet troubled by nothing and teased by no
oneall alone； but perfectly content？
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Something like this was the happiness of the little lame Prince when
he got out of Hopeless Tower； and found himself for the first time in the
pure open air； with the sky above him and the earth below。
True； there was nothing but earth and sky； no houses； no trees； no
rivers； mountains； seas not a beast on the ground； or a bird in the air。 But
to him even the level plain looked beautiful； and then there was the
glorious arch of the sky； with a little young moon
