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like a fly； and to jump like a frog； and to run about on all…fours almost as
fast as a puppy。 In fact； he was very much like a puppy or a kitten； as
thoughtless and as merryscarcely ever cross； though sometimes a little
weary。
As he grew older； he occasionally liked to be quiet for a while； and
then he would sit at the slits of windowswhich were； however； much
bigger than they looked from the bottom of the towerand watch the sky
above and the ground below； with the storms sweeping over and the
sunshine coming and going； and the shadows of the clouds running races
across the blank plain。
By and by he began to learn lessonsnot that his nurse had been
ordered to teach him； but she did it partly to amuse herself。 She was not a
stupid woman； and Prince Dolor was by no means a stupid boy； so they
got on very well； and his continual entreaty； 〃What can I do？ what can you
find me to do？〃 was stopped； at least for an hour or two in the day。
It was a dull life； but he had never known any other； anyhow； he
remembered no other； and he did not pity himself at all。 Not for a long
time； till he grew quite a big little boy； and could read quite easily。 Then he
suddenly took to books； which the deaf…mute brought him from time to
timebooks which； not being acquainted with the literature of
Nomansland； I cannot describe； but no doubt they were very interesting；
and they informed him of everything in the outside world； and filled him
with an intense longing to see it。
From this time a change came over the boy。 He began to look sad and
thin； and to shut himself up for hours without speaking。 For his nurse
hardly spoke； and whatever questions he asked beyond their ordinary daily
life she never answered。 She had； indeed； been forbidden； on pain of death；
to tell him anything about himself； who he was； or what he might have
been。
He knew he was Prince Dolor； because she always addressed him as
〃My Prince〃 and 〃Your Royal Highness；〃 but what a prince was he had not
the least idea。 He had no idea of anything in the world； except what he
found in his books。
He sat one day surrounded by them； having built them up round him
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like a little castle wall。 He had been reading them half the day； but feeling
all the while that to read about things which you never can see is like
hearing about a beautiful dinner while you are starving。 For almost the
first time in his life he grew melancholy； his hands fell on his lap； he sat
gazing out of the window…slit upon the view outside the view he had
looked at every day of his life； and might look at for endless days more。
Not a very cheerful view；just the plain and the sky；but he liked it。
He used to think； if he could only fly out of that window； up to the sky or
down to the plain； how nice it would be！ Perhaps when he diedhis nurse
had told him once in anger that he would never leave the tower till he
diedhe might be able to do this。 Not that he understood much what dying
meant； but it must be a change； and any change seemed to him a blessing。
〃And I wish I had somebody to tell me all about itabout that and
many other things； somebody that would be fond of me； like my poor
white kitten。〃
Here the tears came into his eyes； for the boy's one friend； the one
interest of his life； had been a little white kitten； which the deaf…mute；
kindly smiling； once took out of his pocket and gave himthe only living
creature Prince Dolor had ever seen。
For four weeks it was his constant plaything and companion； till one
moonlight night it took a fancy for wandering； climbed on to the parapet
of the tower； dropped over and disap… peared。 It was not killed； he hoped；
for cats have nine lives； indeed； he almost fancied he saw it pick itself up
and scamper away； but he never caught sight of it more。
〃Yes； I wish I had something better than a kittena person； a real live
person； who would be fond of me and kind to me。 Oh； I want somebody
dreadfully； dreadfully！〃
As he spoke； there sounded behind him a slight tap…tap…tap； as of a
stick or a cane； and twisting himself round； he sawwhat do you think he
saw？
Nothing either frightening or ugly； but still exceedingly curious。 A
little woman； no bigger than he might himself have been had his legs
grown like those of other children； but she was not a childshe was an old
woman。 Her hair was gray； and her dress was gray； and there was a gray
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The Little Lame Prince
shadow over her wherever she moved。 But she had the sweetest smile； the
prettiest hands； and when she spoke it was in the softest voice imaginable。
〃My dear little boy；〃and dropping her cane； the only bright and rich
thing about her； she laid those two tiny hands on his shoulders； 〃my own
little boy； I could not come to you until you had said you wanted me； but
now you do want me； here I am。〃
〃And you are very welcome； madam；〃 replied the Prince； trying to
speak politely； as princes always did in books； 〃and I am exceedingly
obliged to you。 May I ask who you are？ Perhaps my mother？〃 For he
knew that little boys usually had a mother； and had occasionally wondered
what had become of his own。
〃No；〃 said the visitor； with a tender； half… sad smile； putting back the
hair from his forehead； and looking right into his eyes〃no； I am not your
mother； though she was a dear friend of mine； and you are as like her as
ever you can be。〃
〃Will you tell her to come and see me； then？〃
〃She cannot； but I dare say she knows all about you。 And she loves
you very muchand so do I； and I want to help you all I can； my poor little
boy。〃
〃Why do you call me poor？〃 asked Prince Dolor； in surprise。
The little old woman glanced down on his legs and feet； which he did
not know were different from those of other children； and then at his sweet；
bright face； which； though he knew not that either； was exceedingly
different from many children's faces； which are of