the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第4部分
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means sad…minded； but thoughtful and dreamy。 They rather perplexed
people； those childish eyes； they were so exceedingly innocent and yet so
penetrating。 If anybody did a wrong thingtold a lie； for instance they
would turn round with such a grave； silent surprise the child never talked
muchthat every naughty person in the palace was rather afraid of Prince
Dolor。
He could not help it； and perhaps he did not even know it； being no
better a child than many other children； but there was something about
him which made bad people sorry； and grumbling people ashamed of
themselves； and ill… natured people gentle and kind。
I suppose because they were touched to see a poor little fellow who
did not in the least know what had befallen him or what lay before him；
living his baby life as happy as the day is long。 Thus； whether or not he
was good himself； the sight of him and his affliction made other people
good； and； above all； made everybody love him so much so； that his
uncle the Regent began to feel a little uncomfortable。
Now； I have nothing to say against uncles in general。 They are usually
very excellent people； and very convenient to little boys and girls。 Even
the 〃cruel uncle〃 of the 〃Babes in the Wood〃 I believe to be quite an
exceptional character。 And this 〃cruel uncle〃 of whom I am telling was； I
hope； an exception； too。
He did not mean to be cruel。 If anybody had called him so； he would
have resented it extremely： he would have said that what he did was done
entirely for the good of the country。 But he was a man who had always
been accustomed to consider himself first and foremost； believing that
whatever he wanted was sure to be right； and therefore he ought to have it。
So he tried to get it； and got it too； as people like him very often do。
Whether they enjoy it when they have it is another question。
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Therefore he went one day to the council chamber； determined on
making a speech； and informing the ministers and the country at large that
the young King was in failing health； and that it would be advisable to
send him for a time to the Beautiful Mountains。 Whether he really meant
to do this； or whether it occurred to him afterward that there would be an
easier way of attaining his great desire； the crown of Nomansland； is a
point which I cannot decide。
But soon after； when he had obtained an order in council to send the
King away； which was done in great state； with a guard of honor
composed of two whole regiments of soldiers； the nation learned；
without much surprise； that the poor little Princenobody ever called him
king nowhad gone a much longer journey than to the Beautiful
Mountains。
He had fallen ill on the road and died within a few hours； at least so
declared the physician in attendance and the nurse who had been sent to
take care of him。 They brought his coffin back in great state； and buried it
in the mausoleum with his parents。
So Prince Dolor was seen no more。 The country went into deep
mourning for him； and then forgot him； and his uncle reigned in his stead。
That illustrious personage accepted his crown with great decorum； and
wore it with great dignity to the last。 But whether he enjoyed it or not there
is no evidence to show。
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CHAPTER III
And what of the little lame Prince； whom everybody seemed so easily
to have forgotten？
Not everybody。 There were a few kind souls； mothers of families； who
had heard his sad story； and some servants about the palace； who had been
familiar with his sweet ways these many a time sighed and said； 〃Poor
Prince Dolor！〃 Or； looking at the Beautiful Mountains； which were visible
all over Nomansland； though few people ever visited them； 〃Well； perhaps
his Royal Highness is better where he is than even there。〃
They did not knowindeed； hardly anybody did knowthat beyond
the mountains； between them and the sea； lay a tract of country； barren；
level； bare； except for short； stunted grass； and here and there a patch of
tiny flowers。 Not a bushnot a tree not a resting place for bird or beast
was in that dreary plain。 In summer the sunshine fell upon it hour after
hour with a blinding glare； in winter the winds and rains swept over it
unhindered； and the snow came down steadily； noiselessly； covering it
from end to end in one great white sheet； which lay for days and weeks
unmarked by a single footprint。
Not a pleasant place to live inand nobody did live there； apparently。
The only sign that human creatures had ever been near the spot was one
large round tower which rose up in the center of the plain； and might be
seen all over itif there had been anybody to see； which there never was。
Rose right up out of the ground； as if it had grown of itself； like a
mushroom。 But it was not at all mushroom…like； on the contrary； it was
very solidly built。 In form it resembled the Irish round towers； which have
puzzled people for so long； nobody being able to find out when； or by
whom； or for what purpose they were made； seemingly for no use at all；
like this tower。 It was circular； of very firm brickwork； with neither doors
nor windows； until near the top； when you could perceive some slits in the
wall through which one might possibly creep in or look out。 Its height was
nearly a hundred feet； and it had a battlemented parapet showing sharp
against the sky。
As the plain was quite desolatealmost like a desert； only without
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sand； and led to nowhere except the still more desolate seacoastnobody
ever crossed it。 Whatever mystery there was about the tower； it and the sky
and the plain kept their secret to themselves。
It was a very great secret indeed；a state secret；which none but so
clever a man as the present King of Nomansland would ever have thought
of。 How he carried it out； undiscovered； I cannot tell。 People said； long
afterward； that it was by means of a gang of condemned criminals； who
were set to work； and executed immediately after they had done； so that
nobody knew anything； or in the least suspected the real fact。
And what was the fact？ Why； that this tower； which seemed a mere
mass of masonry； utterly forsaken and uninhabited； was not so at all。
Within twenty feet of the top some ingenious architect had planned a
perfect little house； divided into four roomsas by drawing a cross within
a circle you will see might easily be done。 By making skylights； and a few
slits in the walls for windows； and raising a peaked roof which was hidden
by the parapet； here was a dwelling complete； eighty feet from the ground；
and as inaccessible as a rook's nest on the top of a tree。
A charming place to live in！ if you once got up there；and never
wanted to come down again。
Insidethough nobody could have looked inside except a bird； and
hardly even a bird flew past that lonely towerinside it was furnished with
all the comfort and elegance imaginable； with lots of books and toys； and
everything that the heart of a child could desire。 For its only inhabitant；
except a nurse of course； was a poor solitary child。
One winter night； when all the plain was white with moonlight； there
was seen crossing it a great tall black horse； ridden by a man also big and
equally black； carrying before him on the saddle a woman and a child。 The
woman she had a sad； fierce look； and no wonder； for she was a criminal
under sentence of death； but her sentence had been changed to almost as
severe a punishment。 She was to inhabit the lonely tower with the child；
and was allowed to live as long as the child livedno longer。 This in order
that she might take the utmost care of him； for those who put him there
were equally afraid of his dying and of his living。
Yet he was only a little gentle boy； with a sweet； sleepy smilehe had
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been very tired with his long journeyand clinging arms； which held tight
to the man's neck； for he was rather frightened； and the face； black as it
was； looked kindly at him。 And he was very helpless； with his poor； small
shriveled legs； which could neither stand nor run awayfor the little
forlorn boy was Prince Dolor。
He had not been dead at allor buried either。 His grand funeral had
been a mere pretense： a wax figure having been put in his place； while he
himself was spirited away under charge of these two； the condemned
woman and the black man。 The latter was deaf and dumb； so could neither
tell nor repeat
