CHAPTER I
Yes, he was the most beautiful Prince that ever was born.
Of course, being a prince, people said this; but it was true besides.
When he looked at the candle, his eyes had an expression of earnest
inquiry quite startling in a new born baby. His nose--there was not much
of it certainly, but what there was seemed an aquiline shape; his
complexion was a charming, healthy purple; he was round and fat,
straight- limbed and long--in fact, a splendid baby, and everybody was
exceedingly proud of him, especially his father and mother, the King and
Queen of Nomansland, who had waited for him during their happy reign
of ten years--now made happier than ever, to themselves and their subjects,
by the appearance of a son and heir.
The only person who was not quite happy was the King\'s brother, the
heir presumptive, who would have been king one day had the baby not
been born. But as his majesty was very kind to him, and even rather sorry
for him--insomuch that at the Queen\'s request he gave him a dukedom
almost as big as a county--the Crown- Prince, as he was called, tried to
seem pleased also; and let us hope he succeeded.
The Prince\'s christening was to be a grand affair. According to the
custom of the country, 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 god- mother--that he liked the best, for the
rest of his days.