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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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The Little Lame Prince
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 nobody had seen before； and who
certainly had not been invited； for she had no christening clothes on。
She was a little old woman dressed all in gray： gray gown； gray
hooded cloak； of a material excessively fine； and a tint that seemed
perpetually changing； like the gray of an evening sky。 Her hair was gray；
and her eyes alsoeven her complexion had a soft gray shadow over it。
But there was nothing unpleasantly old about her； and her smile was as
sweet and childlike as the Prince's own； which stole over his pale little
face the instant she came near enough to touch him。
〃Take care！ Don't let the baby fall again。〃
The grand young lady nurse started； flushing angrily。
〃Who spoke to me？ How did anybody know？ I mean； what business
has anybody〃 Then frightened； but still speaking in a much sharper
tone than I hope young ladies of rank are in the habit of speaking〃Old
woman； you will be kind enough not to say ‘the baby；' but ‘the Prince。'
Keep away； his Royal Highness is just going to sleep。〃
〃Nevertheless I must kiss him。 I am his god… mother。〃
〃You！〃 cried the elegant lady nurse。
〃You！〃 repeated all the gentlemen and ladies…in…waiting。
〃You！〃 echoed the heralds and pagesand they began to blow the
silver trumpets in order to stop all further conversation。
The Prince's procession formed itself for returning；the King and his
train having already moved off toward the palace；but on the top… most
step of the marble stairs stood； right in front of all； the little old woman
clothed in gray。
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The Little Lame Prince
She stretched herself on tiptoe by the help of her stick； and gave the
little Prince three kisses。
〃This is intolerable！〃 cried the young lady nurse； wiping the kisses off
rapidly with her lace handkerchief。 〃Such an insult to his Royal Highness！
Take yourself out of the way； old woman； or the King shall be informed
immediately。〃
〃The King knows nothing of me； more's the pity；〃 replied the old
woman； with an indifferent air； as if she thought the loss was more on his
Majesty's side than hers。 〃My friend in the palace is the King's wife。〃
〃King's have not wives； but queens；〃 said the lady nurse； with a
contemptuous air。
〃You are right；〃 replied the old woman。 〃Nevertheless I know her
Majesty well； and I love her and her child。 Andsince you dropped him on
the marble stairs （this she said in a mysterious whisper； which made the
young lady tremble in spite of her anger）I choose to take him for my
own； and be his godmother； ready to help him whenever he wants me。〃
〃You help him！〃 cried all the group breaking into shouts of laughter； to
which the little old woman paid not the slightest attention。 Her soft gray
eyes were fixed on the Prince； who seemed to answer to the look； smiling
again and again in the causeless； aimless fashion that babies do smile。
〃His Majesty must hear of this；〃 said a gentleman…in…waiting。
〃His Majesty will hear quite enough news in a minute or two；〃 said the
old woman sadly。 And again stretching up to the little Prince； she kissed
him on the forehead solemnly。
〃Be called by a new name which nobody has ever thought of。 Be
Prince Dolor； in memory of your mother Dolorez。〃
〃In memory of！〃 Everybody started at the ominous phrase； and also at
a most terrible breach of etiquette which the old woman had committed。 In
Nomansland； neither the king nor the queen was supposed to have any
Christian name at all。 They dropped it on their coronation day； and it never
was mentioned again till it was engraved on their coffins when they died。
〃Old woman； you are exceedingly ill…bred；〃 cried the eldest lady…in…
waiting； much horrified。 〃How you could know the fact passes my
comprehension。 But even if you did know it； how dared you presume to
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The Little Lame Prince
hint that her most gracious Majesty is called Dolorez？〃
〃WAS called Dolorez；〃 said the old woman； with a tender solemnity。
The first gentleman； called the Gold…stick…in… waiting； raised it to
strike her； and all the rest stretched out their hands to seize her； but the
gray mantle melted from between their fingers like air； and； before
anybody had