第7部分(第3/7 页)

l！〃　and　the　King　doubled　his　salary　a　second　time。　〃What　an

honour！〃　cried　all　the　courtiers。

After　the　banquet　there　was　to　be　a　Ball。　The　bride　and　bridegroom

were　to　dance　the　Rose…dance　together；　and　the　King　had　promised　to　play

the　flute。　He　played　very　badly；　but　no　one　had　ever　dared　to　tell　him　so；

because　he　was　the　King。　Indeed；　he　knew　only　two　airs；　and　was　never

quite　certain　which　one　he　was　playing；　but　it　made　no　matter；　for；

whatever　he　did；　everybody　cried　out；　〃Charming！　charming！〃

The　last　item　on　the　programme　was　a　grand　display　of　fireworks；　to

be　let　off　exactly　at　midnight。　The　little　Princess　had　never　seen　a

firework　in　her　life；　so　the　King　had　given　orders　that　the　Royal

Pyrotechnist　should　be　in　attendance　on　the　day　of　her　marriage。

〃What　are　fireworks　like？〃　she　had　asked　the　Prince；　one　morning；　as

she　was　walking　on　the　terrace。

〃They　are　like　the　Aurora　Borealis；〃　said　the　King；　who　always

answered　questions　that　were　addressed　to　other　people；　〃only　much　more

natural。　I　prefer　them　to　stars　myself；　as　you　always　know　when　they　are

going　to　appear；　and　they　are　as　delightful　as　my　own　flute…playing。　You

must　certainly　see　them。〃

So　at　the　end　of　the　King's　garden　a　great　stand　had　been　set　up；　and　as

soon　as　the　Royal　Pyrotechnist　had　put　everything　in　its　proper　place；　the

fireworks　began　to　talk　to　each　other。

〃The　world　is　certainly　very　beautiful；〃　cried　a　little　Squib。　〃Just　look

at　those　yellow　tulips。　Why！　if　they　were　real　crackers　they　could　not　be

lovelier。　I　am　very　glad　I　have　travelled。　Travel　improves　the　mind

wonderfully；　and　does　away　with　all　one