the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第16部分
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putting on more coals。 〃It's a funny thing for a prince to have to do；〃 said
he； laughing。 〃But my godmother once said princes need never mind doing
anything。〃
And then he thought a little of his godmother。 Not of summoning her；
or asking her to help him；she had evidently left him to help himself； and
he was determined to try his best to do it； being a very proud and
independent boy； but he remembered her tenderly and regret… fully； as if
even she had been a little hard upon himpoor； forlorn boy that he was。
But he seemed to have seen and learned so much within the last few days
that he scarcely felt like a boy； but a manuntil he went to bed at night。
When I was a child； I used often to think how nice it would be to live
in a little house all by my own selfa house built high up in a tree； or far
away in a forest； or halfway up a hillside so deliciously alone and
independent。 Not a lesson to learnbut no！ I always liked learning my
lessons。 Anyhow； to choose the lessons I liked best； to have as many books
to read and dolls to play with as ever I wanted： above all； to be free and at
rest； with nobody to tease or trouble or scold me； would be charming。 For
I was a lonely little thing； who liked quietnessas many children do；
which other children； and sometimes grown…up people even； cannot
understand。 And so I can understand Prince Dolor。
After his first despair； he was not merely comfortable； but actually
happy in his solitude； doing everything for himself； and enjoying
everything by himselfuntil bedtime。 Then he did not like it at all。 No
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more； I suppose； than other children would have liked my im… aginary
house in a tree when they had had sufficient of their own company。
But the Prince had to bear itand he did bear it； like a princefor fully
five days。 All that time he got up in the morning and went to bed at night
without having spoken to a creature； or； indeed； heard a single sound。 For
even his little lark was silent； and as for his traveling…cloak； either he
never thought about it； or else it had been spirited away for he made no
use of it； nor attempted to do so。
A very strange existence it was； those five lonely days。 He never
entirely forgot it。 It threw him back upon himself； and into himself in a
way that all of us have to learn when we grow up； and are the better for it；
but it is somewhat hard learning。
On the sixth day Prince Dolor had a strange composure in his look； but
he was very grave and thin and white。 He had nearly come to the end of
his provisionsand what was to happen next？ Get out of the tower he
could not： the ladder the deaf…mute used was always carried away again；
and if it had not been； how could the poor boy have used it？ And even if
he slung or flung himself down； and by miraculous chance came alive to
the foot of the tower； how could he run away？
Fate had been very hard to him； or so it seemed。
He made up his mind to die。 Not that he wished to die； on the contrary；
there was a great deal that he wished to live to do； but if he must die； he
must。 Dying did not seem so very dreadful； not even to lie quiet like his
uncle； whom he had entirely forgiven now； and neither be miserable nor
naughty any more； and escape all those horrible things that he had seen
going on outside the palace； in that awful place which was called 〃the
world。〃
〃It's a great deal nicer here；〃 said the poor little Prince； and collected
all his pretty things round him： his favorite pictures； which he thought he
should like to have near him when he died； his books and toysno； he had
ceased to care for toys now； he only liked them because he had done so as
a child。 And there he sat very calm and patient； like a king in his castle；
waiting for the end。
〃Still； I wish I had done something first something worth doing； that
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somebody might remember me by；〃 thought he。 〃Suppose I had grown a
man； and had had work to do； and people to care for； and was so useful
and busy that they liked me； and perhaps even forgot I was lame？ Then it
would have been nice to live； I think。〃
A tear came into the little fellow's eyes； and he listened intently
through the dead silence for some hopeful sound。
Was there one？was it his little lark； whom he had almost forgotten？
No； nothing half so sweet。 But it really was somethingsomething which
came nearer and nearer； so that there was no mistaking it。 It was the sound
of a trumpet； one of the great silver trumpets so admired in Nomansland。
Not pleasant music； but very bold； grand； and inspiring。
As he listened to it the boy seemed to recall many things which had
slipped his memory for years； and to nerve himself for whatever might be
going to happen。
What had happened was this。
The poor condemned woman had not been such a wicked woman after
all。 Perhaps her courage was not wholly disinterested； but she had done a
very heroic thing。 As soon as she heard of the death and burial of the King
and of the changes that were taking place in the country； a daring idea
came into her headto set upon the throne of Nomansland its rightful heir。
Thereupon she persuaded the deaf…mute to take her away with him； and
they galloped like the wind from city to city； spreading everywhere the
news that Prince Dolor's death and burial had been an invention concocted
by his wicked uncle that he was alive and well； and the noblest young
prince that ever was born。
It was a bold stroke； but it succeeded。 The country； weary perhaps of
the late King's harsh rule； and yet glad to save itself from the horrors of
the last few days； and the still further horrors of no rule at all； and having
no particular interest in the other young princes； jumped at the idea of this
Prince； who was the son of their late good King and the beloved Queen
Dolorez。
〃Hurrah for Prince Dolor！ Let Prince Dolor be our sovereign！〃 rang
from end to end of the kingdom。 Everybody tried to remember what a dear
baby he once washow like his mother； who had been so sweet and kind；
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and his father； the finest…looking king that ever reigned。 Nobody
remembered his lameness or； if they did； they passed it over as a matter
of no consequence。 They were determined to have him reign over them；
boy as he was perhaps just because he was a boy； since in that case the
great nobles thought they should be able to do as they liked with the
country。
Accordingly； with a fickleness not confined to the people of
Nomansland； no sooner was the late King laid in his grave than they
pronounced him to have been a usurper； turned all his family out of the
palace； and left it empty for the reception of the new sovereign； whom
they went to fetch with great rejoicing； a select body of lords； gentlemen；
and soldiers traveling night and day in solemn procession through the
country until they reached Hopeless Tower。
There they found the Prince； sitting calmly on the floordeadly pale；
indeed； for he expected a quite different end from this； and was resolved；
if he had to die； to die courageously； like a Prince and a King。
But when they hailed him as Prince and King； and explained to him
how matters stood； and went down on their knees before him； offering the
crown （on a velvet cushion； with four golden tassels； each nearly as big as
his head）；small though he was and lame； which lameness the courtiers
pretended not to notice； there came such a glow into his face； such a
dignity into his demeanor； that he became beautiful； king…like。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃if you desire it； I will be your king。 And I will do my
best to make my people happy。〃
Then there arose； from inside and outside the tower； such a shout as
never yet was heard across the lonely plain。
Prince Dolor shrank a little from the deafening sound。 〃How shall I be
able to rule all this great people？ You forget； my lords； that I am only a
little boy still。〃
〃Not so very little；〃 was the respectful answer。 〃We have searched in
the records； and found that your Royal Highnessyour Majesty； I meanis
fifteen years old。〃
〃Am I？〃 said Prince Dolor； and his first thought was a thoroughly
childish pleasure that he should now have a birthday； with a whole nation
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to keep it。 Then he remembered that his childish days were done。 He was a
monarch now。 Even his nurse； to whom； the moment he saw her； he had
held out his hand； kissed it reverently； and called him ceremoniously 〃his
Majesty the King。〃
〃A king must be always a king； I suppose；〃 said he half…sadly； when；
the ceremonies over； he had been left to himself for just ten minutes； to put
of
