the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第2节
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！
bigger than a child；somebody whom nobody had seen before； and who
certainly had not been invited； for she had no christening clothes on。
She was a little old woman dressed all in gray： gray gown； gray
hooded cloak； of a material excessively fine； and a tint that seemed
perpetually changing； like the gray of an evening sky。 Her hair was gray；
and her eyes alsoeven her complexion had a soft gray shadow over it。
But there was nothing unpleasantly old about her； and her smile was as
sweet and childlike as the Prince's own； which stole over his pale little
face the instant she came near enough to touch him。
〃Take care！ Don't let the baby fall again。〃
The grand young lady nurse started； flushing angrily。
〃Who spoke to me？ How did anybody know？ I mean； what business
has anybody〃 Then frightened； but still speaking in a much sharper
tone than I hope young ladies of rank are in the habit of speaking〃Old
woman； you will be kind enough not to say ‘the baby；' but ‘the Prince。'
Keep away； his Royal Highness is just going to sleep。〃
〃Nevertheless I must kiss him。 I am his god… mother。〃
〃You！〃 cried the elegant lady nurse。
〃You！〃 repeated all the gentlemen and ladies…in…waiting。
〃You！〃 echoed the heralds and pagesand they began to blow the
silver trumpets in order to stop all further conversation。
The Prince's procession formed itself for returning；the King and his
train having already moved off toward the palace；but on the top… most
step of the marble stairs stood； right in front of all； the little old woman
clothed in gray。
5
… Page 6…
The Little Lame Prince
She stretched herself on tiptoe by the help of her stick； and gave the
little Prince three kisses。
〃This is intolerable！〃 cried the young lady nurse； wiping the kisses off
rapidly with her lace handkerchief。 〃Such an insult to his Royal Highness！
Take yourself out of the way； old woman； or the King shall be informed
immediately。〃
〃The King knows nothing of me； more's the pity；〃 replied the old
woman； with an indifferent air； as if she thought the loss was more on his
Majesty's side than hers。 〃My friend in the palace is the King's wife。〃
〃King's have not wives； but queens；〃 said the lady nurse； with a
contemptuous air。
〃You are right；〃 replied the old woman。 〃Nevertheless I know her
Majesty well； and I love her and her child。 Andsince you dropped him on
the marble stairs （this she said in a mysterious whisper； which made the
young lady tremble in spite of her anger）I choose to take him for my
own； and be his godmother； ready to help him whenever he wants me。〃
〃You help him！〃 cried all the group breaking into shouts of laughter； to
which the little old woman paid not the slightest attention。 Her soft gray
eyes were fixed on the Prince； who seemed to answer to the look； smiling
again and again in the causeless； aimless fashion that babies do smile。
〃His Majesty must hear of this；〃 said a gentleman…in…waiting。
〃His Majesty will hear quite enough news in a minute or two；〃 said the
old woman sadly。 And again stretching up to the little Prince； she kissed
him on the forehead solemnly。
〃Be called by a new name which nobody has ever thought of。 Be
Prince Dolor； in memory of your mother Dolorez。〃
〃In memory of！〃 Everybody started at the ominous phrase； and also at
a most terrible breach of etiquette which the old woman had committed。 In
Nomansland； neither the king nor the queen was supposed to have any
Christian name at all。 They dropped it on their coronation day； and it never
was mentioned again till it was engraved on their coffins when they died。
〃Old woman； you are exceedingly ill…bred；〃 cried the eldest lady…in…
waiting； much horrified。 〃How you could know the fact passes my
comprehension。 But even if you did know it； how dared you presume to
6
… Page 7…
The Little Lame Prince
hint that her most gracious Majesty is called Dolorez？〃
〃WAS called Dolorez；〃 said the old woman； with a tender solemnity。
The first gentleman； called the Gold…stick…in… waiting； raised it to
strike her； and all the rest stretched out their hands to seize her； but the
gray mantle melted from between their fingers like air； and； before
anybody had time to do anything more； there came a heavy； muffled；
startling sound。
The great bell of the palace the bell which was only heard on the death
of some one of the royal family； and for as many times as he or she was
years oldbegan to toll。 They listened； mute and horror…stricken。 Some
one counted： onetwothreefourup to nine…and…twenty just the
Queen's age。
It was； indeed； the Queen。 Her Majesty was dead！ In the midst of the
festivities she had slipped away out of her new happiness and her old
sufferings； not few nor small。 Sending away all her women to see the
grand sight；at least they said afterward； in excuse； that she had done so；
and it was very like her to do it；she had turned with her face to the
window； whence one could just see the tops of the distant mountains the
Beautiful Mountains； as they were called where she was born。 So gazing；
she had quietly died。
When the little Prince was carried back to his mother's room； there was
no mother to kiss him。 And； though he did not know it； there would be for
him no mother's kiss any more。 As for his godmother；the little old
woman in gray who called herself so；whether she melted into air； like
her gown when they touched it； or whether she flew out of the chapel
window； or slipped through the doorway among the bewildered crowd；
nobody knewnobody ever thought about her。
Only the nurse； the ordinary homely one； coming out of the Prince's
nursery in the middle of the night in search of a cordial to quiet his
continual moans； saw； sitting in the doorway； something which she would
have thought a mere shadow； had she not seen shining out of it two eyes；
gray and soft and sweet。 She put her hand before her own； screaming
loudly。 When she took them away the old woman was gone。
7
… Page 8…
The Little Lame Prince
CHAPTER II
Everybody was very kind to the poor little prince。 I think people
generally are kind to motherless children； whether princes or peasants。 He
had a magnificent nursery and a regular suite of attendants； and was
treated with the greatest respect and state。 Nobody was allowed to talk to
him in silly baby language； or dandle him； or； above all to kiss him；
though perhaps some people did it surreptitiously； for he was such a sweet
baby that it was difficult to help it。
It could not be said that the Prince missed his motherchildren of his
age cannot do that； but somehow after she died everything seemed to go
wrong with him。 From a beautiful baby he became sickly and pale；
seeming to have almost ceased growing； especially in his legs； which had
been so fat and strong。
But after the day of his christening they withered and shrank； he no
longer kicked them out either in passion or play； and when； as he got to be
nearly a year old； his nurse tried to make him stand upon them； he only
tumbled down。
This happened so many times that at last people began to talk about it。
A prince； and not able to stand on his own legs！ What a dreadful thing！
What a misfortune for the country！
Rather a misfortune to him also； poor little boy！ but nobody seemed to
think of that。 And when； after a while； his health revived； and the old
bright look came back to his sweet little face； and his body grew larger and
stronger； though still his legs remained the same； people continued to
speak of him in whispers； and with grave shakes of t
