第7部分(第5/7 页)

！　order！〃　cried　out　a　Cracker。　He　was　something　of　a　politician；

and　had　always　taken　a　prominent　part　in　the　local　elections；　so　he　knew

the　proper　Parliamentary　expressions　to　use。

〃Quite　dead；〃　whispered　the　Catherine　Wheel；　and　she　went　off　to

sleep。

As　soon　as　there　was　perfect　silence；　the　Rocket　coughed　a　third　time

and　began。　He　spoke　with　a　very　slow；　distinct　voice；　as　if　he　was

dictating　his　memoirs；　and　always　looked　over　the　shoulder　of　the　person

to　whom　he　was　talking。　In　fact；　he　had　a　most　distinguished　manner。

〃How　fortunate　it　is　for　the　King's　son；〃　he　remarked；　〃that　he　is　to　be

38

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

married　on　the　very　day　on　which　I　am　to　be　let　off。　Really；　if　it　had　been

arranged　beforehand；　it　could　not　have　turned　out　better　for　him；　but；

Princes　are　always　lucky。〃

〃Dear　me！〃　said　the　little　Squib；　〃I　thought　it　was　quite　the　other　way；

and　that　we　were　to　be　let　off　in　the　Prince's　honour。〃

〃It　may　be　so　with　you；〃　he　answered；　〃indeed；　I　have　no　doubt　that　it

is；　but　with　me　it　is　different。　I　am　a　very　remarkable　Rocket；　and　e

of　remarkable　parents。　My　mother　was　the　most　celebrated　Catherine

Wheel　of　her　day；　and　was　renowned　for　her　graceful　dancing。　When　she

made　her　great　public　appearance　she　spun　round　nieen　times　before

she　went　out；　and　each　time　that　she　did　so　she　threw　into　the　air　seven

pink　stars。　She　was　three　feet　and　a　half　in　diameter；　and　made　of　the

very　best　gunpowder。　My　father　was　a　Rocket　like　myself；　and　of　French

extraction。　He　flew　so　high　that　the　people　were　afraid　that　he　would

never　e　down　again。　He　did；　though；　for　he