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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
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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？〃
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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；
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The Little Lame Prince
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。
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The Little Lame Prince
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 al