the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第14节
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He had plenty of time for thinking。 After his last journey in the
traveling…cloak； the journey which had given him so much pain； his desire
to see the world somehow faded away。 He contented himself with reading
his books； and looking out of the tower windows； and listening to his
beloved little lark； which had come home with him that day； and never left
him again。
True； it kept out of the way； and though his nurse sometimes dimly
heard it； and said 〃What is that horrid noise outside？〃 she never got the
faintest chance of making it into a lark pie。 Prince Dolor had his pet all to
himself； and though he seldom saw it； he knew it was near him； and he
caught continually； at odd hours of the day； and even in the night；
fragments of its delicious song。
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All during the winterso far as there ever was any difference between
summer and winter in Hopeless Towerthe little bird cheered and amused
him。 He scarcely needed anything morenot even his traveling…cloak；
which lay bundled up unnoticed in a corner； tied up in its innumerable
knots。
Nor did his godmother come near him。 It seemed as if she had given
these treasures and left him aloneto use them or lose them； apply them or
misapply them； according to his own choice。 That is all we can do with
children when they grow into big children old enough to distinguish
between right and wrong； and too old to be forced to do either。
Prince Dolor was now quite a big boy。 Not tallalas！ he never could
be that； with his poor little shrunken legs； which were of no use； only an
encumbrance。 But he was stout and strong； with great sturdy shoulders；
and muscular arms； upon which he could swing himself about almost like
a monkey。 As if in compensation for his useless lower limbs； Nature had
given to these extra strength and activity。 His face； too； was very
handsome； thinner； firmer； more manly； but still the sweet face of his
childhood his mother's own face。
How his mother would have liked to look at him！ Perhaps she did
who knows？
The boy was not a stupid boy either。 He could learn almost anything
he choseand he did choose； which was more than half the battle。 He
never gave up his lessons till he had learned them allnever thought it a
punishment that he had to work at them； and that they cost him a deal of
trouble sometimes。
〃But；〃 thought he； 〃men work； and it must be so grand to be a mana
prince too； and I fancy princes work harder than anybody except kings。
The princes I read about generally turn into kings。 I wonder〃the boy was
always wondering〃Nurse；〃and one day he startled her with a sudden
question；〃tell me shall I ever be a king？〃
The woman stood； perplexed beyond expression。 So long a time had
passed by since her crimeif it were a crimeand her sentence； that she
now seldom thought of either。 Even her punishmentto be shut up for life
in Hopeless Towershe had gradually got used to。 Used also to the little
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The Little Lame Prince
lame Prince； her charge whom at first she had hated； though she
carefully did everything to keep him alive； since upon him her own life
hung。
But latterly she had ceased to hate him； and； in a sort of way； almost
loved himat least； enough to be sorry for himan innocent child；
imprisoned here till he grew into an old man； and became a dull； worn…out
creature like herself。 Sometimes； watching him； she felt more sorry for
him than even for herself； and then； seeing she looked a less miserable and
ugly woman； he did not shrink from her as usual。
He did not now。 〃Nursedear nurse；〃 said he； 〃I don't mean to vex you；
but tell me what is a king？ shall I ever be one？〃
When she began to think less of herself and more of the child； the
woman's courage increased。 The idea came to herwhat harm would it be；
even if he did know his own history？ Perhaps he ought to know itfor
there had been various ups and downs； usurpations； revolutions； and
restorations in Nomansland； as in most other countries。 Something might
happen who could tell？ Changes might occur。 Possibly a crown would
even yet be set upon those pretty； fair curlswhich she began to think
prettier than ever when she saw the imaginary coronet upon them。
She sat down； considering whether her oath； never to 〃say a word〃 to
Prince Dolor about himself； would be broken if she were to take a pencil
and write what was to be told。 A mere quibblea mean； miserable quibble。
But then she was a miserable woman； more to be pitied than scorned。
After long doubt； and with great trepidation； she put her fingers to her
lips； and taking the Prince's slatewith the sponge tied to it； ready to rub
out the writing in a minuteshe wrote：
〃You are a king。〃
Prince Dolor started。 His face grew pale； and then flushed all over； he
held himself erect。 Lame as he was； anybody could see he was born to be a
king。
〃Hush！〃 said the nurse； as he was beginning to speak。 And then；
terribly frightened all the while；people who have done wrong always are
frightened；she wrote down in a few hurried sentences his history。 How
his parents had diedhis uncle had usurped his throne； and sent him to end
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his days in this lonely tower。
〃I； too；〃 added she； bursting into tears。 〃Unless； indeed； you could get
out into the world； and fight for your rights like a man。 And fight for me
also； my Prince； that I may not die in this desolate place。〃
〃Poor old nurse！〃 said the boy compassion… ately。 For somehow； boy
as he was； when he heard he was born to be a king； he felt like a man
like a kingwho could afford to be tender because he was strong。
He scarcely slept that night； and even though he heard his little lark
singing in the sunrise； he barely listened to it。 Things more serious and
important had taken possession of his mind。
〃Suppose；〃 thought he； 〃I were to do as she says； and go out in the
world； no matter how it hurts methe world of people； active people； as
that boy I saw。 They might only laugh at me poor helpless creature that I
am； but still I might show them I could do something。 At any rate； I might
go and see if there were anything for me to do。 Godmother； help me！〃
It was so long since he had asked her help that he was hardly surprised
when he got no answeronly the little lark outside the window sang louder
and louder； and the sun rose； flooding the room with light。
Prince Dolor sprang out of bed； and began dressing himself； which
was hard work； for he was not used to ithe had always been accustomed
to depend upon his nurse for everything。
〃But I must now learn to be independent；〃 thought he。 〃Fancy a king
being dressed like a baby！〃
So he did the best he could；awkwardly but cheerily；and then he
leaped to the corner where lay his traveling…cloak； untied it as before； and
watched it unrolling itselfwhich it did rapidly； with a hearty good…will； as
if quite tired of idleness。 So was Prince Doloror felt as if he were。 He
jumped into the middle of it； said his charm； and was out through the
skylight immediately。
〃Good…by； pretty lark！〃 he shouted； as he passed it on the wing； still
warbling its carol to the newly risen sun。 〃You have been my pleasure； my
delight； now I must go and work。 Sing to old nurse till I come back again。
Perhaps she'll hear youperhaps she won'tbut it will do her good all the
same。 Good…by！〃
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But； as the cloak hung irresolute in air； he suddenly remembered that
he had not determined where to goindeed； he did not know； and there
was nobody to tell him。
〃Godmother；〃 he cried； in much perplexity； 〃you know what I want；
at least； I hope you do； for I hardly do myselftake me where I ought to go；
