the little lame prince-第2章
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a much sharper tone than I hope young ladies of rank are in the habit of speaking〃Old woman； you will be kind enough not to say ‘the baby；' but ‘the Prince。' Keep away； his Royal Highness is just going to sleep。〃
〃Nevertheless I must kiss him。 I am his god… mother。〃
〃You！〃 cried the elegant lady nurse。
〃You！〃 repeated all the gentlemen and ladies…in…waiting。
〃You！〃 echoed the heralds and pagesand they began to blow the silver trumpets in order to stop all further conversation。
The Prince's procession formed itself for returning；the King and his train having already moved off toward the palace；but on the top… most step of the marble stairs stood； right in front of all； the little old woman clothed in gray。
She stretched herself on tiptoe by the help of her stick； and gave the little Prince three kisses。
〃This is intolerable！〃 cried the young lady nurse； wiping the kisses off rapidly with her lace handkerchief。 〃Such an insult to his Royal Highness！ Take yourself out of the way； old woman； or the King shall be informed immediately。〃
〃The King knows nothing of me； more's the pity；〃 replied the old woman； with an indifferent air； as if she thought the loss was more on his Majesty's side than hers。 〃My friend in the palace is the King's wife。〃
〃King's have not wives； but queens；〃 said the lady nurse； with a contemptuous air。
〃You are right；〃 replied the old woman。 〃Nevertheless I know her Majesty well； and I love her and her child。 Andsince you dropped him on the marble stairs （this she said in a mysterious whisper； which made the young lady tremble in spite of her anger）I choose to take him for my own； and be his godmother； ready to help him whenever he wants me。〃
〃You help him！〃 cried all the group breaking into shouts of laughter； to which the little old woman paid not the slightest attention。 Her soft gray eyes were fixed on the Prince； who seemed to answer to the look； smiling again and again in the causeless； aimless fashion that babies do smile。
〃His Majesty must hear of this；〃 said a gentleman…in…waiting。
〃His Majesty will hear quite enough news in a minute or two；〃 said the old woman sadly。 And again stretching up to the little Prince； she kissed him on the forehead solemnly。
〃Be called by a new name which nobody has ever thought of。 Be Prince Dolor； in memory of your mother Dolorez。〃
〃In memory of！〃 Everybody started at the ominous phrase； and also at a most terrible breach of etiquette which the old woman had committed。 In Nomansland； neither the king nor the queen was supposed to have any Christian name at all。 They dropped it on their coronation day； and it never was mentioned again till it was engraved on their coffins when they died。
〃Old woman； you are exceedingly ill…bred；〃 cried the eldest lady…in…waiting； much horrified。 〃How you could know the fact passes my comprehension。 But even if you did know it； how dared you presume to hint that her most gracious Majesty is called Dolorez？〃
〃WAS called Dolorez；〃 said the old woman； with a tender solemnity。
The first gentleman； called the Gold…stick…in… waiting； raised it to strike her； and all the rest stretched out their hands to seize her； but the gray mantle melted from between their fingers like air； and； before anybody had time to do anything more； there came a heavy； muffled； startling sound。
The great bell of the palace the bell which was only heard on the death of some one of the royal family； and for as many times as he or she was years oldbegan to toll。 They listened； mute and horror…stricken。 Some one counted： onetwothreefourup to nine…and…twenty just the Queen's age。
It was； indeed； the Queen。 Her Majesty was dead！ In the midst of the festivities she had slipped away out of her new happiness and her old sufferings； not few nor small。 Sending away all her women to see the grand sight；at least they said afterward； in excuse； that she had done so； and it was very like her to do it；she had turned with her face to the window； whence one could just see the tops of the distant mountains the Beautiful Mountains； as they were called where she was born。 So gazing； she had quietly died。
When the little Prince was carried back to his mother's room； there was no mother to kiss him。 And； though he did not know it； there would be for him no mother's kiss any more。 As for his godmother；the little old woman in gray who called herself so；whether she melted into air； like her gown when they touched it； or whether she flew out of the chapel window； or slipped through the doorway among the bewildered crowd； nobody knewnobody ever thought about her。
Only the nurse； the ordinary homely one； coming out of the Prince's nursery in the middle of the night in search of a cordial to quiet his continual moans； saw； sitting in the doorway； something which she would have thought a mere shadow； had she not seen shining out of it two eyes； gray and soft and sweet。 She put her hand before her own； screaming loudly。 When she took them away the old woman was gone。
CHAPTER II
Everybody was very kind to the poor little prince。 I think people generally are kind to motherless children； whether princes or peasants。 He had a magnificent nursery and a regular suite of attendants； and was treated with the greatest respect and state。 Nobody was allowed to talk to him in silly baby language； or dandle him； or； above all to kiss him； though perhaps some people did it surreptitiously； for he was such a sweet baby that it was difficult to help it。
It could not be said that the Prince missed his motherchildren of his age cannot do that； but somehow after she died everything seemed to go wrong with him。 From a beautiful baby he became sickly and pale； seeming to have almost ceased growing； especially in his legs； which had been so fat and strong。
But after the day of his christening they withered and shrank； he no longer kicked them out either in passion or play； and when； as he got to be nearly a year old； his nurse tried to make him stand upon them； he only tumbled down。
This happened so many times that at last people began to talk about it。 A prince； and not able to stand on his own legs！ What a dreadful thing！ What a misfortune for the country！
Rather a misfortune to him also； poor little boy！ but nobody seemed to think of that。 And when； after a while； his health revived； and the old bright look came back to his sweet little face； and his body grew larger and 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。 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。
