按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Still； by and by； after the fashion of children； and I fear； of many big people too；he began to want something more than he had； something fresh and new。
〃Godmother；〃 he said； having now begun to believe that； whether he saw her or not； he could always speak to her with full confidence that she would hear him〃Godmother； all these creatures I like exceedingly； but I should like better to see a creature like myself。 Couldn't you show me just one little boy？〃
There was a sigh behind him；it might have been only the wind；and the cloak remained so long balanced motionless in air that he was half afraid his godmother had forgotten him； or was offended with him for asking too much。 Suddenly a shrill whistle startled him； even through his silver ears； and looking downward； he saw start up from behind a bush on a common； something
Neither a sheep nor a horse nor a cownothing upon four legs。 This creature had only two； but they were long； straight； and strong。 And it had a lithe； active body； and a curly head of black hair set upon its shoulders。 It was a boy； a shepherd…boy； about the Prince's own agebut； oh！ so different。
Not that he was an ugly boythough his face was almost as red as his hands； and his shaggy hair matted like the backs of his own sheep。 He was rather a nice…looking lad； and seemed so bright and healthy and good…tempered 〃jolly〃 would be the word； only I am not sure if they have such a one in the elegant language of Nomanslandthat the little Prince watched him with great admiration。
〃Might he come and play with me？ I would drop down to the ground to him； or fetch him up to me here。 Oh； how nice it would be if I only had a little boy to play with me。〃
But the cloak； usually so obedient to his wishes； disobeyed him now。 There were evi… dently some things which his godmother either could not or would not give。 The cloak hung stationary； high in air； never attempting to descend。 The shepherd…lad evidently took it for a large bird； and； shading his eyes； looked up at it； making the Prince's heart beat fast。
However； nothing ensued。 The boy turned round； with a long； loud whistleseemingly his usual and only way of expressing his feelings。 He could not make the thing out exactlyit was a rather mysterious affair； but it did not trouble him muchhe was not an 〃examining〃 boy。
Then； stretching himself； for he had been evidently half asleep； he began flopping his shoulders with his arms to wake and warm himself； while his dog； a rough collie； who had been guarding the sheep meanwhile； began to jump upon him； barking with delight。
〃Down； Snap； down： Stop that； or I'll thrash you；〃 the Prince heard him say； though with such a rough； hard voice and queer pronunciation that it was difficult to make the words out。 〃Hollo！ Let's warm ourselves by a race。〃
They started off together； boy and dogbarking and shouting； till it was doubtful which made the more noise or ran the faster。 A regular steeplechase it was： first across the level common； greatly disturbing the quiet sheep； and then tearing away across country； scrambling through hedges and leaping ditches； and tumbling up and down over plowed fields。 They did not seem to have anything to run forbut as if they did it； both of them； for the mere pleasure of motion。
And what a pleasure that seemed！ To the dog of course； but scarcely less so to the boy。 How he skimmed along over the groundhis cheeks glowing； and his hair flying； and his legs oh； what a pair of legs he had！
Prince Dolor watched him with great intentness； and in a state of 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 olderthat 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 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