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The Little Lame Prince
The Little Lame Prince
By MISS MULOCK
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The Little Lame Prince
CHAPTER I
Yes； he was the most beautiful Prince that ever was born。
Of course； being a prince； people said this； but it was true besides。
When he looked at the candle； his eyes had an expression of earnest
inquiry quite startling in a new born baby。 His nosethere was not much
of it certainly； but what there was seemed an aquiline shape； his
complexion was a charming； healthy purple； he was round and fat；
straight… limbed and longin fact； a splendid baby； and everybody was
exceedingly proud of him； especially his father and mother； the King and
Queen of Nomansland； who had waited for him during their happy reign
of ten yearsnow made happier than ever； to themselves and their subjects；
by the appearance of a son and heir。
The only person who was not quite happy was the King's brother； the
heir presumptive； who would have been king one day had the baby not
been born。 But as his majesty was very kind to him； and even rather sorry
for himinsomuch that at the Queen's request he gave him a dukedom
almost as big as a countythe Crown… Prince； as he was called； tried to
seem pleased also； and let us hope he succeeded。
The Prince's christening was to be a grand affair。 According to the
custom of the country； there were chosen for him four…and…twenty god…
fathers and godmothers； who each had to give him a name； and promise to
do their utmost for him。 When he came of age； he himself had to choose
the nameand the godfather or god… motherthat he liked the best； for the
rest of his days。
Meantime all was rejoicing。 Subscriptions were made among the rich
to give pleasure to the poor； dinners in town…halls for the workingmen；
tea…parties in the streets for their wives； and milk…and…bun feasts for the
children in the schoolrooms。 For Nomansland； though I cannot point it out
in any map； or read of it in any history； was； I believe； much like our own
or many another country。
As for the palacewhich was no different from other palacesit was
clean 〃turned out of the windows；〃 as people say； with the preparations
going on。 The only quiet place in it was the room which； though the Prince
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was six weeks old； his mother the Queen had never quitted。 Nobody said
she was ill； howeverit would have been so inconvenient； and as she said
nothing about it herself； but lay pale and placid； giving no trouble to
anybody； nobody thought much about her。 All the world was absorbed in
admiring the baby。
The christening…day came at last； and it was as lovely as the Prince
himself。 All the people in the palace were lovely tooor thought
themselves soin the elegant new clothes which the Queen； who thought
of everybody； had taken care to give them； from the ladies…in…waiting
down to the poor little kitchen…maid； who looked at herself in her pink
cotton gown； and thought； doubtless； that there never was such a pretty
girl as she。
By six in the morning all the royal household had dressed itself in its
very best； and then the little Prince was dressed in his besthis
magnificent christening robe； which proceeding his Royal Highness did
not like at all； but kicked and screamed like any common baby。 When he
had a little calmed down； they carried him to be looked at by the Queen
his mother； who； though her royal robes had been brought and laid upon
the bed； was； as everybody well knew； quite unable to rise and put them
on。
She admired her baby very much； kissed and blessed him； and lay
looking at him； as she did for hours sometimes； when he was placed
beside her fast asleep； then she gave him up with a gentle smile； and；
saying she hoped he would be very good； that it would be a very nice
christening； and all the guests would enjoy themselves； turned peacefully
over on her bed； saying nothing more to anybody。 She was a very
uncomplaining person； the Queenand her name was Dolorez。
Everything went on exactly as if she had been present。 All； even the
king himself； had grown used to her absence； for she was not strong； and
for years had not joined in any gayeties。 She always did her royal duties；
but as to pleasures； they could go on quite well without her； or it seemed
so。 The company arrived： great and notable persons in this and
neighboring countries； also the four…and…twenty godfathers and
godmothers； who had been chosen with care； as the people who would be
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most useful to his royal highness should he ever want friends； which did
not seem likely。 What such want could possibly happen to the heir of the
powerful monarch of Nomansland？
They came； walking two and two； with their coronets on their heads
being dukes and duchesses； princes and princesses； or the like； they all
kissed the child and pronounced the name each had given him。 Then the
four…and…twenty names were shouted out with great energy by six heralds；
one after the other； and afterward written down； to be preserved in the
state records； in readiness for the next time they were wanted； which
would be either on his Royal Highness' coronation or his funeral。
Soon the ceremony was over； and everybody satisfied； except； perhaps；
the little Prince himself； who moaned faintly under his christening robes；
which nearly smothered him。
In truth； though very few knew； the Prince in coming to the chapel had
met with a slight disaster。 His nurse；not his ordinary one； but the state
nurse…maid；an elegant and fashionable young lady of rank； whose duty it
was to carry him to and from the chapel； had been so occupied in
arranging her train with one hand； while she held the baby with the other；
that she stumbled and let him fall； just at the foot of the marble staircase。
To be sure； she contrived to pick him up again the next minute； and the
accident was so slight it seemed hardly worth speaking of。 Consequently
nobody did speak of it。 The baby had turned deadly pale； but did not cry；
so no person a step or two behind could discover anything wrong；
afterward； even if he had moaned； the silver trumpets were loud enough to
drown his voice。 It would have been a pity to let anything trouble such a
day of felicity。
So； after a minute's pause； the procession had moved on。 Such a
procession t Heralds in blue and silver； pages in crimson and gold； and a
troop of little girls in dazzling white； carrying baskets of flowers； which
they strewed all the way before the nurse and childfinally the four… and…
twenty godfathers and godmothers； as proud as possible； and so splendid
to look at that they would have quite extinguished their small godson
merely a heap of lace and muslin with a baby face insidehad it not been
for a canopy of white satin and ostrich feathers which was held over him
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wherever he was carried。
Thus； with the sun shining on them through the painted windows； they
stood； the king and his train on one side； the Prince and his attendants on
the other； as pretty a sight as ever was seen out of fairyland。
〃It's just like fairyland；〃 whispered the eldest little girl to the next
eldest； as she shook the last rose out of her basket； 〃and I think the only
thing the Prince wants now is a fairy god… mother。〃
〃Does he？〃 said a shrill but soft and not unpleasant voice behind； and
there was seen among the group of children somebody；not a child； yet no
bigger than a child；somebody whom nobo