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myself very comfortable as a bird。〃
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〃Ha！〃 laughed the prince； a new light breaking in upon him as he
caught the infection｛sic｝ of her tone； lively and mischievous。 〃Ha！ ha！ a
lark； for instance？〃
〃Or a magpie；〃 answered she； with a capital imitation of Mistress
Mag's croaky voice。 〃Do you suppose I am always sentimental； and never
funny？ If anything makes you happy； gay； or grave； don't you think it is
more than likely to come through your old godmother？〃
〃I believe that；〃 said the boy tenderly； holding out his arms。 They
clasped one another in a close embrace。
Suddenly Prince Dolor looked very anxious。 〃You will not leave me
now that I am a king？ Otherwise I had rather not be a king at all。 Promise
never to forsake me！〃
The little old woman laughed gayly。 〃Forsake you？ that is impossible。
But it is just possible you may forsake me。 Not probable though。 Your
mother never did； and she was a queen。 The sweetest queen in all the
world was the Lady Dolorez。〃
〃Tell me about her；〃 said the boy eagerly。 〃As I get older I think I can
understand more。 Do tell me。〃
〃Not now。 You couldn't hear me for the trumpets and the shouting。 But
when you are come to the palace； ask for a long…closed upper room； which
looks out upon the Beautiful Mountains； open it and take it for your own。
Whenever you go there you will always find me； and we will talk together
about all sorts of things。〃
〃And about my mother？〃
The little old woman noddedand kept nodding and smiling to herself
many times； as the boy repeated over and over again the sweet words he
had never known or understood〃my mothermy mother。〃
〃Now I must go；〃 said she； as the trumpets blared louder and louder；
and the shouts of the people showed that they would not endure any delay。
〃Good…by； good…by！ Open the window and out I fly。〃
Prince Dolor repeated gayly the musical rhymebut all the while tried
to hold his godmother fast。
Vain； vain！ for the moment that a knocking was heard at his door the
sun went behind a cloud； the bright stream of dancing motes vanished； and
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the little old woman with them he knew not where。
So Prince Dolor quitted his towerwhich he had entered so mournfully
and ignominiously as a little helpless baby carried in the deaf…mute's arms…
…quitted it as the great King of Nomansland。
The only thing he took away with him was something so insignificant
that none of the lords； gentlemen； and soldiers who escorted him with such
triumphant splendor could possibly notice ita tiny bundle； which he had
found lying on the floor just where the bridge of sunbeams had rested。 At
once he had pounced upon it； and thrust it secretly into his bosom； where it
dwin… dled into such small proportions that it might have been taken for a
mere chest…comforter； a bit of flannel； or an old pocket…handkerchief。 It
was his traveling…cloak！
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CHAPTER X
Did Prince Dolar become a great king？ Was he； though little more than
a boy； 〃the father of his people；〃 as all kings ought to be？ Did his reign last
longlong and happy？ and what were the principal events of it； as
chronicled in the history of Nomansland？
Why； if I were to answer all these questions I should have to write
another book。 And I'm tired； children； tiredas grown…up people
sometimes are； though not always with play。 （Besides； I have a small
person belonging to me； who； though she likes extremely to listen to the
word…of…mouth story of this book； grumbles much at the writing of it； and
has run about the house clapping her hands with joy when mamma told
her that it was nearly finished。 But that is neither here nor there。）
I have related as well as I could the history of Prince Dolor； but with
the history of Nomansland I am as yet unacquainted。 If anybody knows it；
perhaps he or she will kindly write it all down in another book。 But mine
is done。
However； of this I am sure； that Prince Dolor made an excellent king。
Nobody ever does anything less well； not even the commonest duty of
common daily life； for having such a godmother as the little old woman
clothed in gray； whose name iswell； I leave you to guess。 Nor； I think； is
anybody less good； less capable of both work and enjoyment in after…life；
for having been a little unhappy in his youth； as the prince had been。
I cannot take upon myself to say that he was always happy nowwho
is？or that he had no cares； just show me the person who is quite free
from them！ But whenever people worried and bothered himas they did
sometimes； with state etiquette； state squabbles； and the like； setting up
themselves and pulling down their neighbors he would take refuge in
that upper room which looked out on the Beautiful Mountains； and； laying
his head on his godmother's shoulder； become calmed and at rest。
Also； she helped him out of any difficulty which now and then
occurredfor there never was such a wise old woman。 When the people of
Nomansland raised the alarmas sometimes they didfor what people can
exist without a little fault…finding？and began to cry out； 〃Un… happy is
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the nation whose king is a child；〃 she would say to him gently； 〃You are a
child。 Accept the fact。 Be humblebe teachable。 Lean upon the wisdom of
others till you have gained your own。〃
He did so。 He learned how to take advice before attempting to give it；
to obey before he could righteously command。 He assembled round him
all the good and wise of his kingdom laid all its affairs before them； and
was guided by their opinions until he had maturely formed his own。
This he did sooner than anybody would have imagined who did not
know of his godmother and his traveling…cloaktwo secret blessings；
which； though many guessed at； nobody quite understood。 Nor did they
understand why he loved so the little upper room； except that it had been
his mother's room； from the window of which； as people remembered now；
she had used to sit for hours watching the Beautiful Mountains。
Out of that window he used to flynot very often； as he grew older；
the labors of state prevented the frequent use of his traveling…cloak； still he
did use it sometimes。 Only now it was less for his own pleasure and
amusement than to see something or investigate something for the good of
the country。 But he prized his godmother's gift as dearly as ever。 It was a
comfort to him in all his vexations； an enhancement of all his joys。 It made
him almost forget his lamenesswhich was never cured。
However； the cruel things which had been once foreboded of him did
not happen。 His misfortune was not such a heavy one； after all。 It proved
to be of much less inconvenience； even to himself； than had been feared。 A
council of eminent surgeons and mechanicians invented for him a
wonderful pair of crutches； with the help of which； though he never
walked easily or gracefully； he did manage to walk so as to be quite
independent。 And such was the love his people bore him that they never
heard the sound of his crutches on the marble palace floors without a leap
of the heart； for they knew that good was coming to them whenever he
approached。
Thus； though he never walked in processions； never reviewed his
troops mounted on a magnificent charger； nor did any of the things which
make a show monarch so much appreciated； he was able for all the duties
and a great many of the pleasures of his rank。 When he held his levees； not
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standing； but seated on a throne in… geniously contrived to hide his
infirmity； the people t