the little lame prince-第3章
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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 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 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 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 very hopeless tone； and looking toward the Regent； who stood erect and pretended to hear nothing。 〃I have heard that these sort of children with very large heads； and great broad fore… heads and staring eyes； arewell； well； let us hope for the best and be prepared for the worst。 In the meantime〃
〃I swear；〃 said the Crown…Prince； coming forward and kissing the hilt of his sword〃I swear to perform my duties as Regent； to take all care of his Royal Highnesshis Majesty； I mean；〃 with a grand bow to the little child； who laughed innocently back again。 〃And I will do my humble best to govern the country。 Still； if the country has the slightest objection〃
But the Crown…Prince being generalissimo； having the whole army at his beck and call； so that he could have begun a civil war in no time； the country had； of course； not the slightest objection。
So the King and Queen slept together in peace； and Prince Dolor reigned over the landthat is； his uncle did； and everybody said what a fortunate thing it was for the poor little Prince to have such a clever uncle to take care of him。
All things went on as usual； indeed； after the Regent had brought his wife and her seven sons； and established them in the palace； rather better than usual。 For they gave such splendid entertainments and made the capital so lively that trade revived； and the country was said to be more flourishing than it had been for a century。 Whenever the Regent and his sons appeared； they were received with shouts： 〃Long live the Crown…Prince！〃 〃Long live the royal family！〃 And； in truth； they were very fine children； the whole seven of them； and made a great show when they rode out together on seven beautiful horses； one height above another； down to the youngest； on his tiny black pony； no bigger than a large dog。
As for the other child； his Royal Highness Prince Dolor；for somehow people soon ceased to call him his Majesty； which seemed such a ridiculous title for a poor little fellow； a helpless cripple；with only head and trunk； and no legs to speak of；he was seen very seldom by anybody。
Sometimes people daring enough to peer over the high wall of the palace garden noticed there； carried in a footman's arms； or drawn in a chair； or left to play on the grass； often with nobody to mind him； a pretty little boy； with a bright； intelligent face and
