Produced by Mark C. Orton, Jacqueline Jeremy, Ian Deane and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net LITTLE LAME PRINCE. [Illustration: "I SWEAR TO PERFORM MY DUTIES AS REGENT, AND TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MAJESTY." [PAGE 11.]] THE PLEASANT HOUR SERIES THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE _By_ DINAH MARIA MULOCK REWRITTEN FOR YOUNG READERS BY MARGARET WATERS ILLUSTRATED BY HUGO VON HOFSTEN NEW YORK BARSE & HOPKINS PUBLISHERS ILLUSTRATIONS. Page I SWEAR TO PERFORM MY DUTIES AS REGENT, AND TO TAKE CARE OF HIS MAJESTY Frontispiece "I MUST KISS HIM, I AM HIS GOD MOTHER" 8 AND TWISTING HIMSELF AROUND, WHAT DO YOU THINK HE SAW? 16 PRINCE DOLOR MADE A SNATCH AT THE TOPMOST TWIG OF THE TALLEST TREE 24 THE PRINCE GAZED EARNESTLY DOWN INTO THE LARGEST ROOM HE HAD EVER BEHELD 32 HE LIFTED UP HIS THIN, SLENDER HAND, AND THERE CAME A SILENCE OVER THE VAST CROWD IMMEDIATELY 40 THE LITTLE LAME PRINCE CHAPTER I. He was the most beautiful prince that ever was born. Being a prince, people said this; and it was true. When he looked at the candle, his eyes had an earnest expression quite startling in a new-born baby. His nose was aquiline; his complexion was healthy; he was round, fat, and straight-limbed--a splendid baby. His father and mother, King and Queen of Nomansland, and their subjects were proud and happy, having waited ten years for an heir. The only person not quite happy was the king's brother, who would have been king had the baby not been born, but his Majesty was very kind to him, and gave him a Dukedom as large as a country. The Prince's christening was to be a grand affair; there were chosen for him four and twenty godfathers and godmothers, who each had to give him a name, and promise to do their utmost for him. When he came of age, he himself had to choose the name--and the godfather or godmother--that he liked best. All was rejoicing and the rich gave dinners and feasts for the poor. The only quiet place in the Palace was the room, which though the prince was six weeks old, his mother, the Queen, had not quitted. Nobody thought she was ill as she said nothing about it herself, but lay pale and placid, giving no trouble to anybody. Christening day came at last and it was as lovely as the Prince himself. All the people in the Palace were beautifully dressed in the clothes which the Queen had given them.