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〃Very likely not。 But it is time you were told； and I tell you； because I
love you。〃
〃Tell me what； dear godmother？〃
〃That you will never be able to walk or run or jump or playthat your
life will be quite different from most people's lives； but it may be a very
happy life for all that。 Do not be afraid。〃
〃I am not afraid；〃 said the boy； but he turned very pale； and his lips
began to quiver； though he did not actually cryhe was too old for that；
and； perhaps； too proud。
Though not wholly comprehending； he began dimly to guess what his
godmother meant。 He had never seen any real live boys； but he had seen
pictures of them running and jumping； which he had admired and tried
hard to imitate but always failed。 Now he began to understand why he
failed； and that he always should fail that； in fact； he was not like other
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little boys； and it was of no use his wishing to do as they did； and play as
they played； even if he had had them to play with。 His was a separate life；
in which he must find out new work and new pleasures for himself。
The sense of THE INEVITABLE； as grown…up people call itthat we
cannot have things as we want them to be； but as they are； and that we
must learn to bear them and make the best of themthis lesson； which
everybody has to learn soon or latecame； alas！ sadly soon； to the poor
boy。 He fought against it for a while； and then； quite overcome； turned and
sobbed bitterly in his godmother's arms。
She comforted himI do not know how； except that love always
comforts； and then she whispered to him； in her sweet； strong； cheerful
voice： 〃Never mind！〃
〃No； I don't think I do mindthat is； I WON'T mind；〃 replied he；
catching the courage of her tone and speaking like a man； though he was
still such a mere boy。
〃That is right； my Prince！that is being like a prince。 Now we know
exactly where we are； let us put our shoulders to the wheel and〃
〃We are in Hopeless Tower〃 （this was its name； if it had a name）； 〃and
there is no wheel to put our shoulders to；〃 said the child sadly。
〃You little matter…of…fact goose！ Well for you that you have a
godmother called〃
〃What？〃 he eagerly asked。
〃Stuff…and…nonsense。〃
〃Stuff…and…nonsense！ What a funny name！〃
〃Some people give it me； but they are not my most intimate friends。
These call menever mind what；〃 added the old woman； with a soft
twinkle in her eyes。 〃So as you know me； and know me well； you may
give me any name you please； it doesn't matter。 But I am your godmother；
child。 I have few godchildren； those I have love me dearly； and find me the
greatest blessing in all the world。〃
〃I can well believe it；〃 cried the little lame Prince； and forgot his
troubles in looking at heras her figure dilated； her eyes grew lustrous as
stars； her very raiment brightened； and the whole room seemed filled with
her beautiful and beneficent presence like light。
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The Little Lame Prince
He could have looked at her foreverhalf in love； half in awe； but she
suddenly dwindled down into the little old woman all in gray； and； with a
malicious twinkle in her eyes； asked for the traveling…cloak。
〃Bring it out of the rubbish cupboard； and shake the dust off it； quick！〃
said she to Prince Dolor； who hung his head； rather ashamed。 〃Spread it
out on the floor； and wait till the split closes and the edges turn up like a
rim all round。 Then go and open the skylight；mind； I say OPEN THE
SKYLIGHT；set yourself down in the middle of it； like a frog on a water…
lily leaf； say ‘Abracadabra； dum dum dum；' andsee what will happen！〃
The Prince burst into a fit of laughing。 It all seemed so exceedingly
silly； he wondered that a wise old woman like his godmother should talk
such nonsense。
〃Stuff…and…nonsense； you mean；〃 said she； answering； to his great
alarm； his unspoken thoughts。 〃Did I not tell you some people called me
by that name？ Never mind； it doesn't harm me。〃
And she laughedher merry laughas child… like as if she were the
Prince's age instead of her own； whatever that might be。 She certainly was
a most extraordinary old woman。
〃Believe me or not； it doesn't matter；〃 said she。 〃Here is the cloak：
when you want to go traveling on it； say ‘Abracadabra； dum； dum； dum'；
when you want to come back again； say ‘Abracadabra； tum tum ti。' That's
all； good…by。〃
A puff of most pleasant air passing by him。 and making him feel for
the moment quite strong and well； was all the Prince was conscious of。 His
most extraordinary godmother was gone。
〃Really now； how rosy your Royal Highness' cheeks have grown！ You
seem to have got well already；〃 said the nurse； entering the room。
〃I think I have；〃 replied the Prince very gentlyhe felt gently and
kindly even to his grim nurse。 〃And now let me have my dinner； and go
you to your sewing as usual。〃
The instant she was gone； however； taking with her the plates and
dishes； which for the first time since his illness he had satisfactorily
cleared； Prince Dolor sprang down from his sofa； and with one or two of
his frog…like jumps reached the cupboard where he kept his toys； and
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The Little Lame Prince
looked everywhere for his traveling…cloak。
Alas！ it was not there。
While he was ill of the doldrums； his nurse； thinking it a good
opportunity for putting things to rights； had made a grand clearance of all
his 〃rubbish〃as she considered it： his beloved headless horses； broken
carts； sheep without feet； and birds without wingsall the treasures of his
baby days； which he could not bear to part with。 Though he seldom played
with them now； he liked just to feel they were there。
They were all gone and with them the traveling…cloak。 He sat down on
the floor； looking at the empty shelves； so beautifully clean and tidy； then
burst out sobbing as if his heart would break。
But quietlyalways quietly。 He never let his nurse hear him cry。 She
only laughed at him； as he felt she would laugh now。
〃And it is all my own fault！〃 he cried。 〃I ought to have taken better
care of my godmother's gift。 Oh； godmother； forgive me！ I'll never be so
careless again。 I don't know what the cloak is exactly； but I am sure it is
something precious。 Help me to find it again。 Oh； don't let it be stolen
from medon't； please！〃
〃Ha； ha； ha！〃 laughed a silvery voice。 〃Why； that traveling…cloak is the
one thing in the world which nobody can steal。 It is of no use to anybody
except the owner。 Open your eyes； my Prince； and see what you shall see。〃
His dear old godmother； he thought； and turned eagerly round。 But no；
he only beheld； lying in a corner of the room； all dust and cobwebs； his
precious traveling…cloak。
Prince Dolor darted toward it； tumbling several times on the way； as he
often did tumble； poor boy！ and pick himself up again； never complaining。
Snatching it to his breast； he hugged and kissed it； cobwebs and all； as if it
had been something alive。 Then he began unrolling it； wondering each
minute what would happen。 What did happen was so curious that I must
leave it for another chapter。
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CHAPTER V
If any reader； big or little； should wonder whether there is a meaning in
this story deeper than that of an ordinary fairy tale； I will own that there is。
But I have hidden it so carefully that the smaller people； and many larger
folk； will never find it out； and meantime the book may be read straight on；
like 〃Cinderella；〃 or 〃Blue…Beard；〃 or 〃Hop…o'… my…Thumb；〃 for what
interest it has； or what amusement it may bring。
Having said this； I return to Prince Dolor； that little lame boy whom
many may think so exceedingly to be pitied。 But if you had seen him as he
sat patiently