the little lame prince-第13章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ld 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 pitied than scorned。
After long doubt； and with great trepidation； she put her fingers to her lips； and taking the Prince's slatewith the sponge tied to it； ready to rub out the writing in a minuteshe wrote：
〃You are a king。〃
Prince Dolor started。 His face grew pale； and then flushed all over； he held himself erect。 Lame as he was； anybody could see he was born to be a king。
〃Hush！〃 said the nurse； as he was beginning to speak。 And then； terribly frightened all the while；people who have done wrong always are frightened；she wrote down in a few hurried sentences his history。 How his parents had diedhis uncle had usurped his throne； and sent him to end his days in this lonely tower。
〃I； too；〃 added she； bursting into tears。 〃Unless； indeed； you could get out into the world； and fight for your rights like a man。 And fight for me also； my Prince； that I may not die in this desolate place。〃
〃Poor old nurse！〃 said the boy compassion… ately。 For somehow； boy as he was； when he heard he was born to be a king； he felt like a man like a kingwho could afford to be tender because he was strong。
He scarcely slept that night； and even though he heard his little lark singing in the sunrise； he barely listened to it。 Things more serious and important had taken possession of his mind。
〃Suppose；〃 thought he； 〃I were to do as she says； and go out in the world； no matter how it hurts methe world of people； active people； as that boy I saw。 They might only laugh at me poor helpless creature that I am； but still I might show them I could do something。 At any rate； I might go and see if there were anything for me to do。 Godmother； help me！〃
It was so long since he had asked her help that he was hardly surprised when he got no answeronly the little lark outside the window sang louder and louder； and the sun rose； flooding the room with light。
Prince Dolor sprang out of bed； and began dressing himself； which was hard work； for he was not used to ithe had always been accustomed to depend upon his nurse for everything。
〃But I must now learn to be independent；〃 thought he。 〃Fancy a king being dressed like a baby！〃
So he did the best he could；awkwardly but cheerily；and then he leaped to the corner where lay his traveling…cloak； untied it as before； and watched it unrolling itselfwhich it did rapidly； with a hearty good…will； as if quite tired of idleness。 So was Prince Doloror felt as if he were。 He jumped into the middle of it； said his charm； and was out through the skylight immediately。
〃Good…by； pretty lark！〃 he shouted； as he passed it on the wing； still warbling its carol to the newly risen sun。 〃You have been my pleasure； my delight； now I must go and work。 Sing to old nurse till I come back again。 Perhaps she'll hear youperhaps she won'tbut it will do her good all the same。 Good…by！〃
But； as the cloak hung irresolute in air； he suddenly remembered that he had not determined where to goindeed； he did not know； and there was nobody to tell him。
〃Godmother；〃 he cried； in much perplexity； 〃you know what I want；at least； I hope you do； for I hardly do myselftake me where I ought to go； show me whatever I ought to see never mind what I like to see；〃 as a sudden idea came into his mind that he might see many painful and disagreeable things。 But this journey was not for pleasure as before。 He was not a baby now； to do nothing but playbig boys do not always play。 Nor men neitherthey work。 Thus much Prince Dolor knewthough very little more。
As the cloak started off； traveling faster than he had ever known it to do；through sky…land and cloud land； over freezing mountain…tops； and desolate stretches of forest； and smiling cultivated plains； and great lakes that seemed to him almost as shoreless as the sea；he was often rather frightened。 But he crouched down； silent and quiet； what was the use of making a fuss？ and； wrapping himself up in his bear…skin； waited for what was to happen。
After some time he heard a murmur in the distance； increasing more and more till it grew like the hum of a gigantic hive of bees。 And； stretching his chin over the rim of his cloak； Prince Dolor sawfar； far below him； yet； with his gold spectacles and silver ears on； he could distinctly hear and seewhat？
Most of us have some time or other visited a great metropolishave wandered through its network of streetslost ourselves in its crowds of peoplelooked up at its tall rows of houses； its grand public buildings； churches； and squares。 Also； perhaps； we have peeped into its miserable little back alleys； where dirty children play in gutters all day and half the night even young boys go about picking pockets； with nobody to tell them it is wrong except the policeman； and he simply takes them off to prison。 And all this wretchedness is close behind the grandeurlike the two sides of the leaf of a book。
An awful sight is a large city； seen any how from any where。 But； suppose you were to see it from the upper air； where； with your eyes and ears open； you could take in everything at once？ What would it look like？ How would you feel about it？ I hardly know myself。 Do you？
Prince Dolor had need to be a kingtha
