# File temp/element.rb, line 222
    def namespace(prefix=nil)
      if prefix.nil?
        prefix = prefix()
      end
      if prefix == ''
        prefix = "xmlns"
      else
        prefix = "xmlns:#{prefix}" unless prefix[0,5] == 'xmlns'
      end
      ns = attributes[ prefix ]
      ns = parent.namespace(prefix) if ns.nil? and parent
      ns = '' if ns.nil? and prefix == 'xmlns'
      return ns
    end