“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 much--and 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 often so fretful, cross, sullen. Looking at him, instead of sighing, she smiled. “I beg your pardon, my Prince,” said she. “Yes, I am a prince, and my name is Dolor; will you tell me yours, madam?” The little old woman laughed like a chime of silver bells. “I have not got a name--or, rather, I have so many names that I don't know which to choose. However, it was I who gave you yours, and you will belong to me all your days. I am your godmother.” “Hurrah!” cried the little Prince; “I am glad I belong to you, for I like you very much. Will you come and play with me?” So they sat down together and played. By and by they began to talk. “Are you very dull here?” asked the little old woman. “Not particularly, thank you, godmother. I have plenty to eat and drink, and my lessons to do, and my books to read--lots of books.” “And you want nothing?” “Nothing. Yes--perhaps----If you please, godmother, could you bring me just one more thing?” “What sort of thing!” “A little boy to play with.” The old woman looked very sad. “Just the thing, alas I which I cannot give you. My child, I cannot alter your lot in any way, but I can help you to bear it.” “Thank you. But why do you talk of bearing it? I have nothing to bear.” “My poor little man!” said the old woman in the very tenderest tone of her tender voice. “Kiss me!” “What is kissing?” asked the wondering child. His godmother took him in her arms and embraced him many times. By and by he kissed her back again--at first awkwardly and shyly, then with all the strength of his warm little heart. “You are better to cuddle than even my white kitten, I think. Promise me that you will never go away.” “I must; but I will leave a present behind me,--something as good as myself to amuse you,--something that will take you wherever you want to go, and show you all that you wish to see.” “What is it?” “A traveling-cloak.”