ey were determined to have him reign over them.
Accordingly no sooner was the late king laid in his grave than they
pronounced him a usurper; turned all his family out of the palace, and
left it empty for the reception of the new sovereign, whom they went to
fetch with great rejoicing.

They hailed him with delight, as prince and king and went down on their
knees before him, offering the crown to him.

"Yes," he said, "if you desire it, I will be your king. And I will do my
best to make my people happy."

"Oh!" said he, "if before I go, I could only see my dear godmother." He
gazed sadly up to the skylight, whence there came pouring a stream of
sunrays like a bridge between heaven and earth. Sliding down it, came
the little woman in grey.

He held out his arms in eager delight.

"Oh, godmother, you have not forsaken me!"

"Not at all my son. You may not have seen me, but I have seen you many
a time."

"How?"

"Oh, never mind. I can turn into anything I please you know."

"A lark, for instance," cried Prince Dolor.

"Or a Magpie," answered she with a capital imitation of Mag's croaky
voice.

"You will not leave me now that I am king? Otherwise I had rather not be
a king at all," said he.

The little old woman laughed gaily. "Forsake you? That is impossible.
But now I must go. Good-bye! Open the window and out I fly."

Prince Dolor tried to hold his godmother fast, but in vain. A knocking
was heard at the door, and the little woman vanished.

His godmother helped him out of many difficulties for there was never
such a wise old woman.

He was very happy and contented; first, because he took his affliction
patiently; second, because being a brave man, he bore it bravely.
Therefore other people grew to love him so well, that I think hundreds
of his subjects might have been found who were almost ready to die for
their poor lame king.

He did a good many things, however, which a little astonished his
subjects. First, he pardoned the condemned woman, who had been his nurse
and ordered that there should be no such thing as the death punishment
in Nomansland.

Then he chose the eldest son of his eldest cousin, a quiet, unobtrusive
boy, to be educated as heir to the throne.

In course of time, when the little prince had grown into a tall young
man, King Dolor fixed a day when the people should assemble in the great
square of the capital to see the young prince installed solemnly in his
new duties.

The k