the little lame prince(小瘸腿王子)-第15章
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sight； and what in the world he should do when it was gone； when it
suddenly closed its wings； as larks do when they mean to drop to the
ground。 But； instead of dropping to the ground； it dropped right into the
little boy's breast。
What felicity！ If it would only stay！ A tiny； soft thing to fondle and
kiss； to sing to him all day long； and be his playfellow and companion；
tame and tender； while to the rest of the world it was a wild bird of the air。
What a pride； what a delight！ To have something that nobody else had
something all his own。 As the traveling…cloak traveled on； he little heeded
where； and the lark still stayed； nestled down in his bosom； hopped from
his hand to his shoulder； and kissed him with its dainty beak； as if it loved
him； Prince Dolor forgot all his grief； and was entirely happy。
But when he got in sight of Hopeless Tower a painful thought struck
him。
〃My pretty bird； what am I to do with you？ If I take you into my room
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and shut you up there； you； a wild skylark of the air； what will become of
you？ I am used to this； but you are not。 You will be so miserable； and
suppose my nurse should find youshe who can't bear the sound of
singing？ Besides； I remember her once telling me that the nicest thing she
ever ate in her life was lark pie！〃
The little boy shivered all over at the thought。 And； though the merry
lark immediately broke into the loudest carol； as if saying derisively that
he defied anybody to eat him； still； Prince Dolor was very uneasy。 In
another minute he had made up his mind。
〃No； my bird； nothing so dreadful shall happen to you if I can help it； I
would rather do without you altogether。 Yes； I'll try。 Fly away； my darling；
my beautiful！ Good…by； my merry； merry bird。〃
Opening his two caressing hands； in which； as if for protection； he had
folded it； he let the lark go。 It lingered a minute； perching on the rim of the
cloak； and looking at him with eyes of almost human tenderness； then
away it flew； far up into the blue sky。 It was only a bird。
But some time after； when Prince Dolor had eaten his supper
somewhat drearily； except for the thought that he could not possibly sup
off lark pie nowand gone quietly to bed； the old familiar little bed； where
he was accustomed to sleep； or lie awake contentedly thinking suddenly
he heard outside the window a little faint carolfaint but cheerful
cheerful even though it was the middle of the night。
The dear little lark！ it had not flown away； after all。 And it was truly
the most extraordinary bird； for； unlike ordinary larks； it kept hovering
about the tower in the silence and darkness of the night； outside the
window or over the roof。 Whenever he listened for a moment； he heard it
singing still。
He went to sleep as happy as a king。
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The Little Lame Prince
CHAPTER VII
Happy as a king。〃 How far kings are happy I cannot say； no more than
could Prince Dolor； though he had once been a king himself。 But he
remembered nothing about it； and there was nobody to tell him； except his
nurse； who had been forbidden upon pain of death to let him know
anything about his dead parents； or the king his uncle； or indeed any part
of his own history。
Sometimes he speculated about himself； whether he had had a father
and mother as other little boys had what they had been like； and why he
had never seen them。 But； knowing nothing about them； he did not miss
themonly once or twice； reading pretty stories about little children and
their mothers； who helped them when they were in difficulty and
comforted them when they were sick； he feeling ill and dull and lonely；
wondered what had become of his mother and why she never came to see
him。
Then； in his history lessons； of course he read about kings and princes；
and the governments of different countries； and the events that happened
there。 And though he but faintly took in all this； still he did take it in a
little； and worried his young brain about it； and perplexed his nurse with
questions； to which she returned sharp and mysterious answers； which
only set him thinking the more。
He had plenty of time for thinking。 After his last journey in the
traveling…cloak； the journey which had given him so much pain； his desire
to see the world somehow faded away。 He contented himself with reading
his books； and looking out of the tower windows； and listening to his
beloved little lark； which had come home with him that day； and never left
him again。
True； it kept out of the way； and though his nurse sometimes dimly
heard it； and said 〃What is that horrid noise outside？〃 she never got the
faintest chance of making it into a lark pie。 Prince Dolor had his pet all to
himself； and though he seldom saw it； he knew it was near him； and he
caught continually； at odd hours of the day； and even in the night；
fragments of its delicious song。
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All during the winterso far as there ever was any difference between
summer and winter in Hopeless Towerthe little bird cheered and amused
him。 He scarcely needed anything morenot even his traveling…cloak；
which lay bundled up unnoticed in a corner； tied up in its innumerable
knots。
Nor did his godmother come near him。 It seemed as if she had given
these treasures and left him aloneto use them or lose them； apply them or
misapply them； according to his own choice。 That is all we can do with
children when they grow into big children old 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 did
who 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
