the little lame prince-第11节
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You have heard it hundreds of times； my children； and so have I。 When I was a child I thought there was nothing so sweet； and I think so still。 It was just the song of a skylark； mounting higher and higher from the ground； till it came so close that Prince Dolor could distinguish his quivering wings and tiny body； almost too tiny to contain such a gush of music。
〃Oh； you beautiful； beautiful bird！〃 cried he； 〃I should dearly like to take you in and cuddle you。 That is； if I couldif I dared。〃
But he hesitated。 The little brown creature with its loud heavenly voice almost made him afraid。 Nevertheless； it also made him happy； and he watched and listenedso absorbed that he forgot all regret and pain； forgot everything in the world except the little lark。
It soared and soared； and he was just wondering if it would soar out of sight； and what in the world he should do when it was gone； when it suddenly closed its wings； as larks do when they mean to drop to the ground。 But； instead of dropping to the ground； it dropped right into the little boy's breast。
What felicity！ If it would only stay！ A tiny； soft thing to fondle and kiss； to sing to him all day long； and be his playfellow and companion； tame and tender； while to the rest of the world it was a wild bird of the air。 What a pride； what a delight！ To have something that nobody else hadsomething all his own。 As the traveling…cloak traveled on； he little heeded where； and the lark still stayed； nestled down in his bosom； hopped from his hand to his shoulder； and kissed him with its dainty beak； as if it loved him； Prince Dolor forgot all his grief； and was entirely happy。
But when he got in sight of Hopeless Tower a painful thought struck him。
〃My pretty bird； what am I to do with you？ If I take you into my room and shut you up there； you； a wild skylark of the air； what will become of you？ I am used to this； but you are not。 You will be so miserable； and suppose my nurse should find youshe who can't bear the sound of singing？ Besides； I remember her once telling me that the nicest thing she ever ate in her life was lark pie！〃
The little boy shivered all over at the thought。 And； though the merry lark immediately broke into the loudest carol； as if saying derisively that he defied anybody to eat him； still； Prince Dolor was very uneasy。 In another minute he had made up his mind。
〃No； my bird； nothing so dreadful shall happen to you if I can help it； I would rather do without you altogether。 Yes； I'll try。 Fly away； my darling； my beautiful！ Good…by； my merry； merry bird。〃
Opening his two caressing hands； in which； as if for protection； he had folded it； he let the lark go。 It lingered a minute； perching on the rim of the cloak； and looking at him with eyes of almost human tenderness； then away it flew； far up into the blue sky。 It was only a bird。
But some time after； when Prince Dolor had eaten his suppersomewhat drearily； except for the thought that he could not possibly sup off lark pie nowand gone quietly to bed； the old familiar little bed； where he was accustomed to sleep； or lie awake contentedly thinking suddenly he heard outside the window a little faint carolfaint but cheerfulcheerful even though it was the middle of the night。
The dear little lark！ it had not flown away； after all。 And it was truly the most extraordinary bird； for； unlike ordinary larks； it kept hovering about the tower in the silence and darkness of the night； outside the window or over the roof。 Whenever he listened for a moment； he heard it singing still。
He went to sleep as happy as a king。
CHAPTER VII
Happy as a king。〃 How far kings are happy I cannot say； no more than could Prince Dolor； though he had once been a king himself。 But he remembered nothing about it； and there was nobody to tell him； except his nurse； who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know anything about his dead parents； or the king his uncle； or indeed any part of his own history。
Sometimes he speculated about himself； whether he had had a father and mother as other little boys had what they had been like； and why he had never seen them。 But； knowing nothing about them； he did not miss themonly once or twice； reading pretty stories about little children and their mothers； who helped them when they were in difficulty and comforted them when they were sick； he feeling ill and dull and lonely； wondered what had become of his mother and why she never came to see him。
Then； in his history lessons； of course he read about kings and princes； and the governments of different countries； and the events that happened there。 And though he but faintly took in all this； still he did take it in a little； and worried his young brain about it； and perplexed his nurse with questions； to which she returned sharp and mysterious answers； which only set him thinking the more。
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。
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 didwho 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 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 pit
