# File rexml/element.rb, line 1459
    def get_attribute( name )
      attr = fetch( name, nil )
      if attr.nil?
	return nil if name.nil?
	# Look for prefix
	name =~ Namespace::NAMESPLIT
	prefix, name = $1, $2
	if prefix
	  attr = fetch( name, nil )
	  # check prefix
	  return nil if attr == nil
	  if attr.kind_of? Attribute
	    return attr if prefix == attr.prefix
	  else
	    attr = attr[ prefix ]
	    return attr
	  end
	end
	return nil
      end
      if attr.kind_of? Hash
	attr = attr[ @element.prefix ]
      end
      return attr
    end