the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第7节
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A good did it do the Prince？
Stay； and I'll tell you all about it。 Outside it was the commonest…
looking bundle imaginableshabby and small； and the instant Prince
Dolor touched it； it grew smaller still； dwindling down till he could put it
in his trousers pocket； like a handkerchief rolled up into a ball。 He did this
at once； for fear his nurse should see it； and kept it there all dayall night；
too。 Till after his next morning's lessons he had no opportunity of
examining his treasure。
When he did； it seemed no treasure at all； but a mere piece of cloth
circular 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
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The Little Lame Prince
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 memory
only 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
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The Little Lame Prince
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
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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
