the little lame prince-第5节

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He　sat　one　day　surrounded　by　them；　having　built　them　up　round　him　like　a　little　castle　wall。　He　had　been　reading　them　half　the　day；　but　feeling　all　the　while　that　to　read　about　things　which　you　never　can　see　is　like　hearing　about　a　beautiful　dinner　while　you　are　starving。　For　almost　the　first　time　in　his　life　he　grew　melancholy；　his　hands　fell　on　his　lap；　he　sat　gazing　out　of　the　window…slit　upon　the　view　outside　the　view　he　had　looked　at　every　day　of　his　life；　and　might　look　at　for　endless　days　more。

Not　a　very　cheerful　view；just　the　plain　and　the　sky；but　he　liked　it。　He　used　to　think；　if　he　could　only　fly　out　of　that　window；　up　to　the　sky　or　down　to　the　plain；　how　nice　it　would　be！　Perhaps　when　he　diedhis　nurse　had　told　him　once　in　anger　that　he　would　never　leave　the　tower　till　he　diedhe　might　be　able　to　do　this。　Not　that　he　understood　much　what　dying　meant；　but　it　must　be　a　change；　and　any　change　seemed　to　him　a　blessing。

〃And　I　wish　I　had　somebody　to　tell　me　all　about　itabout　that　and　many　other　things；　somebody　that　would　be　fond　of　me；　like　my　poor　white　kitten。〃

Here　the　tears　came　into　his　eyes；　for　the　boy's　one　friend；　the　one　interest　of　his　life；　had　been　a　little　white　kitten；　which　the　deaf…mute；　kindly　smiling；　once　took　out　of　his　pocket　and　gave　himthe　only　living　creature　Prince　Dolor　had　ever　seen。

For　four　weeks　it　was　his　constant　plaything　and　companion；　till　one　moonlight　night　it　took　a　fancy　for　wandering；　climbed　on　to　the　parapet　of　the　tower；　dropped　over　and　disap…　peared。　It　was　not　killed；　he　hoped；　for　cats　have　nine　lives；　indeed；　he　almost　fancied　he　saw　it　pick　itself　up　and　scamper　away；　but　he　never　caught　sight　of　it　more。

〃Yes；　I　wish　I　had　something　better　than　a　kittena　person；　a　real　live　person；　who　would　be　fond　of　me　and　kind　to　me。　Oh；　I　want　somebody　dreadfully；　dreadfully！〃

As　he　spoke；　there　sounded　behind　him　a　slight　tap…tap…tap；　as　of　a　stick　or　a　cane；　and　twisting　himself　round；　he　sawwhat　do　you　think　he　saw？

Nothing　either　frightening　or　ugly；　but　still　exceedingly　curious。　A　little　woman；　no　bigger　than　he　might　himself　have　been　had　his　legs　grown　like　those　of　other　children；　but　she　was　not　a　childshe　was　an　old　woman。　Her　hair　was　gray；　and　her　dress　was　gray；　and　there　was　a　gray　shadow　over　her　wherever　she　moved。　But　she　had　the　sweetest　smile；　the　prettiest　hands；　and　when　she　spoke　it　was　in　the　softest　voice　imaginable。

〃My　dear　little　boy；〃and　dropping　her　cane；　the　only　bright　and　rich　thing　about　her；　she　laid　those　two　tiny　hands　on　his　shoulders；　〃my　own　little　boy；　I　could　not　come　to　you　until　you　had　said　you　wanted　me；　but　now　you　do　want　me；　here　I　am。〃

〃And　you　are　very　welcome；　madam；〃　replied　the　Prince；　trying　to　speak　politely；　as　princes　always　did　in　books；　〃and　I　am　exceedingly　obliged　to　you。　May　I　ask　who　you　are？　Perhaps　my　mother？〃　For　he　knew　that　little　boys　usually　had　a　mother；　and　had　occasionally　wondered　what　had　become　of　his　own。

〃No；〃　said　the　visitor；　with　a　tender；　half…　sad　smile；　putting　back　the　hair　from　his　forehead；　and　looking　right　into　his　eyes〃no；　I　am　not　your　mother；　though　she　was　a　dear　friend　of　mine；　and　you　are　as　like　her　as　ever　you　can　be。〃

〃Will　you　tell　her　to　come　and　see　me；　then？〃

〃She　cannot；　but　I　dare　say　she　knows　all　about　you。　And　she　loves　you　very　muchand　so　do　I；　and　I　want　to　help　you　all　I　can；　my　poor　little　boy。〃

〃Why　do　you　call　me　poor？〃　asked　Prince　Dolor；　in　surprise。

The　little　old　woman　glanced　down　on　his　legs　and　feet；　which　he　did　not　know　were　different　from　those　of　other　children；　and　then　at　his　sweet；　bright　face；　which；　though　he　knew　not　that　either；　was　exceedingly　different　from　many　children's　faces；　which　are　often　so　fretful；　cross；　sullen。　Looking　at　him；　instead　of　sighing；　she　smiled。　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　my　Prince；〃　said　she。

〃Yes；　I　am　a　prince；　and　my　name　is　Dolor；　will　you　tell　me　yours；　madam？〃

The　little　old　woman　laughed　like　a　chime　of　silver　bells。

〃I　have　not　got　a　nameor；　rather；　I　have　so　many　names　that　I　don't　know　which　to　choose。　However；　it　was　I　who　gave　you　yours；　and　you　will　belong　to　me　all　your　days。　I　am　your　godmother。〃

〃Hurrah！〃　cried　the　little　Prince；　〃I　am　glad　I　belong　to　you；　for　I　like　you　very　much。　Will　you　come　and　play　with　me？〃

So　they　sat　down　together　and　played。　By　and　by　they　began　to　talk。

〃Are　you　very　dull　here？〃　asked　the　little　old　woman。

〃Not　particularly；　thank　you；　godmother。　I　have　plenty　to　eat　and　drink；　and　my　lessons　to　do；　and　my　books　to　readlots　of　books。〃

〃And　you　want　nothing？〃

〃Nothing。　Yesperhaps　If　you　please；　godmother；　could　you　bring　me　just　one　more　thing？〃

〃What　sort　of　thing！〃

〃A　little　boy　to　play　with。〃

The　old　woman　looked　very　sad。　〃Just　the　thing；　alas　I　which　I　cannot　give　you。　My　child；　I　cannot　alter　your　lot　in　any　way；　but　I　can　help　you　to　bear　it。〃

〃Thank　you。　But　why　do　you　talk　of　bearing　it？　I　have　nothing　to　bear。〃

〃My　poor　little　man！〃　said　the　old　woman　in　the　very　tenderest　tone　of　her　tender　voice。　〃Kiss　me！〃

〃What　is　kissing？〃　asked　the　wondering　child。

His　godmother　took　him　in　her　arms　and　embraced　him　many　times。　By　and　by　he　kissed　her　back　againat　first　awkwardly　and　shyly；　then　with　all　the　strength　of　his　warm　little　heart。

〃You　are　better　to　cuddle　than　even　my　white　kitten；　I　think。　Promise　me　that　you　will　never　go　away；〃

〃I　must；　but　I　will　leave　a　present　behind　me；something　as　good　as　myself　to　amuse　you；　something　that　will　take　you　wherever　you　want　to　go；　and　show　you　all　that　you　wish　to　see。〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃A　traveling…cloak。〃

The　Prince's　countenance　fell。　〃I　don't　want　a　cloak；　for　I　never　go　out。　Sometimes　nurse　hoists　me　on　to　the　roof；　and　carries　me　round　by　the　parapet；　but　that　is　all。　I　can't　walk；　you　know；　as　she　does。〃

〃The　more　reason　why　you　should　ride；　and　besides；　this　traveling…cloak〃

〃Hush！she's　coming。〃

There　sounded　outside　the　room　door　a　heavy　step　and　a　grumpy　voice；　and　a　rattle　of　plates　and　dishes。

〃It's　my　nurse；　and　she　is　bringing　my　dinner；　but　I　don't　want　dinner　at　allI　only　want　you。　Will　her　coming　drive　you　away；　godmother？〃

〃Perhaps；　but　only　for　a　little　while。　Never　mind；　all　the　bolts　and　bars　in　the　world　couldn't　keep　me　out。　I'd　fly　in　at　the　window；　or　down　through　the　chimney。　Only　wish　for　me；　and　I　come。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Prince　Dolor；　but　almost　in　a　whisper；　for　he　was　very　uneasy　at　what　might　happen　next。　His　nurse　and　his　godmother　what　would　they　say　to　one　another？　how　would　they　look　at　one　another？two　such　different　faces：　one　harsh…lined；　sullen；　cross；　and　sad；　the　other　sweet　and　bright　and　calm　as　a　summer　evening　before　the　dark　begins。

When　the　door　was　flung　open；　Prince　Dolor　shut　his　eyes；　trembling　all　over；　opening　them　again；　he　saw　he　need　fear　nothinghis　lovely　old　godmother　had　melted　away　just　like　the　rainbow　out　of　the　sky；　as　he　had　watched　it　many　a　time。　Nobody　but　his　nurse　was　in　the　room。

〃What　a　muddle　your　Royal　Highness　is　sitting　in；〃　said　she　sharply。　〃Such　a　heap　of　untidy　books；　and　what's　this　rubbish？〃　knocking　a　little　bundle　that　lay　beside　them。

〃Oh；　nothing；　nothinggive　it　me！〃　cried　the　Prince；　and；　darting　after　it；　he　hid　it　under　his　pinafore；　and　then　pushed　it　quickly　into　his　pocket。　Rubbish　as　it　was；　it　was　left　in　the　place　where　she　sat；　and　might　be　something　belonging　to　herhis　dear；　kind　godmother；　whom　already　he　loved　with　all　his　lonely；　tender；　passionate　heart。

It　was；　though　he　did　not　know　this；　his　wonderful　traveling…cloak。



CHAPTER　IV

And　what　of　the　traveling…cloak？　What　sort　of　cloak　was　it；　and　what　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　clothcircular　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　caref