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stronger； though still his legs remained the same； people continued to
speak of him in whispers； and with grave shakes of the head。 Everybody
knew； though nobody said it； that something； it was impossible to guess
what； was not quite right with the poor little Prince。
Of course； nobody hinted this to the King his father： it does not do to
tell great people anything unpleasant。 And besides； his Majesty took very
little notice of his son； or of his other affairs； beyond the necessary duties
of his kingdom。
People had said he would not miss the Queen at all； she having been so
long an invalid； but he did。 After her death he never was quite the same。
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The Little Lame Prince
He established himself in her empty rooms； the only rooms in the palace
whence one could see the Beautiful Mountains； and was often observed
looking at them as if he thought she had flown away thither； and that his
longing could bring her back again。 And by a curious coincidence； which
nobody dared inquire into； he desired that the Prince might be called； not
by any of the four…and…twenty grand names given him by his godfathers
and godmothers； but by the identical name mentioned by the little old
woman in grayDolor； after his mother Dolorez。
Once a week； according to established state custom； the Prince；
dressed in his very best； was brought to the King his father for half an hour；
but his Majesty was generally too ill and too melancholy to pay much
heed to the child。
Only once； when he and the Crown…Prince； who was exceedingly
attentive to his royal brother； were sitting together； with Prince Dolor
playing in a corner of the room； dragging himself about with his arms
rather than his legs； and sometimes trying feebly to crawl from one chair
to another； it seemed to strike the father that all was not right with his son。
〃How old is his Royal Highness？〃 said he suddenly to the nurse。
〃Two years； three months； and five days； please your Majesty。〃
〃It does not please me；〃 said the King； with a sigh。 〃He ought to be far
more forward than he is now ought he not； brother？ You； who have so
many children； must know。 Is there not something wrong about him？〃
〃Oh； no；〃 said the Crown…Prince； exchanging meaning looks with the
nurse； who did not understand at all； but stood frightened and trembling
with the tears in her eyes。 〃Nothing to make your Majesty at all uneasy。
No doubt his Royal Highness will outgrow it in time。〃
〃Outgrowwhat？〃
〃A slight delicacyahem！in the spine； something inherited； perhaps；
from his dear mother。〃
〃Ah； she was always delicate； but she was the sweetest woman that
ever lived。 Come here； my little son。〃
And as the Prince turned round upon his father a small； sweet； grave
face；so like his mother's；his Majesty the King smiled and held out his
arms。 But when the boy came to him； not running like a boy； but wriggling
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The Little Lame Prince
awkwardly along the floor； the royal countenance clouded over。
〃I ought to have been told of this。 It is terribleterrible！ And for a
prince too。 Send for all the doctors in my kingdom immediately。〃
They came； and each gave a different opinion and ordered a different
mode of treatment。 The only thing they agreed in was what had been
pretty well known before； that the Prince must have been hurt when he
was an infantlet fall； perhaps； so as to injure his spine and lower limbs。
Did nobody remember？
No； nobody。 Indignantly； all the nurses denied that any such accident
had happened； was possible to have happened； until the faithful country
nurse recollected that it really had happened on the day of the christening。
For which unluckily good memory all the others scolded her so severely
that she had no peace of her life； and soon after； by the influence of the
young lady nurse who had carried the baby that fatal day； and who was a
sort of connection of the Crown… Princebeing his wife's second cousin
once removedthe poor woman was pensioned off and sent to the
Beautiful Mountains from whence she came； with orders to remain there
for the rest of her days。
But of all this the King knew nothing； for； indeed； after the first shock
of finding out that his son could not walk； and seemed never likely to he
interfered very little concerning him。 The whole thing was too painful； and
his Majesty never liked painful things。 Sometimes he inquired after Prince
Dolor； and they told him his Royal Highness was going on as well as
could be expected； which really was the case。 For； after worrying the poor
child and perplexing themselves with one remedy after another； the
Crown… Prince； not wishing to offend any of the differing doctors； had
proposed leaving him to Nature； and Nature； the safest doctor of all； had
come to his help and done her best。
He could not walk； it is true； his limbs were mere useless appendages
to his body； but the body itself was strong and sound。 And his face was the
same as everjust his mother's face； one of the sweetest in the world。
Even the King； indifferent as he was； sometimes looked at the little
fellow with sad tenderness； noticing how cleverly he learned to crawl and
swing himself about by his arms； so that in his own awkward way he was
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The Little Lame Prince
as active in motion as most children of his age。
〃Poor little man！ he does his best； and he is not unhappynot half so
unhappy as I； brother；〃 addressing the Crown…Prince； who was more
constant than ever in his attendance upon the sick monarch。 〃If anything
should befall me； I have appointed you Regent。 In case of my death； you
will take care of my poor little boy？〃
〃Certainly； certainly； but do not let us imagine any such misfortune。 I
assure your Majesty everybody will assure youthat it is not in the least
likely。〃
He knew； however； and everybody knew； that it was likely； and soon
after it actually did happen。 The King died as suddenly and quietly as the
Queen had doneindeed； in her very room and bed； and Prince Dolor was
left without either father or motheras sad a thing as could happen； even
to a prince。
He was more than that now； though。 He was a king。 In Nomansland； as
in other countries； the people were struck with grief one day and revived
the next。 〃The king is deadlong live the king！〃 was the cry that rang
through the nation； and almost before his late Majesty had been laid beside
the Queen in their splendid mausoleum； crowds came thronging from all
parts to the royal palace； eager to see the new monarch。
They did see him；the Prince Regent took care they should；sitting on
the floor of the council chamber； sucking his thumb！ And when one of the
gentlemen…in…waiting lifted him up and carried himfancy carrying a
king！to the chair of state； and put the crown on his head； he shook it off
again； it was so heavy and uncomfortable。 Sliding down to the foot of the
throne he began playing with the golden lions that supported it； stroking
their paws and putting his tiny fingers into their eyes； and laughing
laughing as if he had at last found something to amuse him。
〃There's a fine king for you！〃 said the first lord…in…waiting； a friend of
the Prince Regent's （the Crown…Prince that used to be； who； in the deepest
mourning； stood silently beside the throne of his young nephew。 He was a
handsome man； very grand and clever…looking）。 〃What a king！ who can
never stand to receive his subjects； never walk in processions； who to the
last day of his life will have to be carried about like a baby。 Very
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The Little Lame Prince
unfortunate！〃
〃Exceedingly unfortunate；〃 repeated the second lord。 〃It is always bad
for a nation when its king is a child； but such a childa permanent cripple；
if not worse。〃
〃Let us hope not worse；〃 said the first lord in a