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The Little Lame Prince
excitement almost equal to that of the runner himselffor a while。 Then
the sweet； pale face grew a trifle paler； the lips began to quiver； and the
eyes to fill。
〃How nice it must be to run like that！〃 he said softly； thinking that
neverno； never in this worldwould he be able to do the same。
Now he understood what his godmother had meant when she gave him
his traveling…cloak； and why he had heard that sighhe was sure it was
herswhen he had asked to see 〃just one little boy。〃
〃I think I had rather not look at him again；〃 said the poor little Prince；
drawing himself back into the center of his cloak； and resuming his
favorite posture； sitting like a Turk； with his arms wrapped round his
feeble； useless legs。
〃You're no good to me；〃 he said； patting them mournfully。 〃You never
will be any good to me。 I wonder why I had you at all。 I wonder why I was
born at all； since I was not to grow up like other boys。 Why not？〃
A question so strange； so sad； yet so often occurring in some form or
other in this world as you will find； my children； when you are older
that even if he had put it to his mother she could only have answered it； as
we have to answer many as difficult things； by simply saying； 〃I don't
know。〃 There is much that we do not know and cannot understandwe big
folks no more than you little ones。 We have to accept it all just as you have
to accept anything which your parents may tell you； even though you don't
as yet see the reason of it。 You may sometime； if you do exactly as they
tell you； and are content to wait。
Prince Dolor sat a good while thus； or it appeared to him a good while；
so many thoughts came and went through his poor young mind thoughts
of great bitterness； which； little though he was； seemed to make him grow
years older in a few minutes。
Then he fancied the cloak began to rock gently to and fro； with a
soothing kind of motion； as if he were in somebody's arms： somebody who
did not speak； but loved him and comforted him without need of words；
not by deceiving him with false encouragement or hope； but by making
him see the plain； hard truth in all its hardness； and thus letting him quietly
face it； till it grew softened down； and did not seem nearly so dreadful
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after all。
Through the dreary silence and blankness； for he had placed himself so
that he could see nothing but the sky； and had taken off his silver ears as
well as his gold spectacleswhat was the use of either when he had no
legs with which to walk or run？up from below there rose a delicious
sound。
You have heard it hundreds of times； my children； and so have I。 When
I was a child I thought there was nothing so sweet； and I think so still。 It
was just the song of a skylark； mounting higher and higher from the
ground； till it came so close that Prince Dolor could distinguish his
quivering wings and tiny body； almost too tiny to contain such a gush of
music。
〃Oh； you beautiful； beautiful bird！〃 cried he； 〃I should dearly like to
take you in and cuddle you。 That is； if I couldif I dared。〃
But he hesitated。 The little brown creature with its loud heavenly voice
almost made him afraid。 Nevertheless； it also made him happy； and he
watched and listenedso absorbed that he forgot all regret and pain； forgot
everything in the world except the little lark。
It soared and soared； and he was just wondering if it would soar out of
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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The Little Lame Prince
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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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