第5部分(第3/7 页)

my　going　to　see　little　Hans　as　long　as　the　snow

lasts；'　the　Miller　used　to　say　to　his　wife；　'for　when　people　are　in　trouble

they　should　be　left　alone；　and　not　be　bothered　by　visitors。　That　at　least　is

my　idea　about　friendship；　and　I　am　sure　I　am　right。　So　I　shall　wait　till　the

spring　es；　and　then　I　shall　pay　him　a　visit；　and　he　will　be　able　to　give

me　a　large　basket　of　primroses　and　that　will　make　him　so　happy。'

〃'You　are　certainly　very　thoughtful　about　others；'　answered　the　Wife；

as　she　sat　in　her　fortable　armchair　by　the　big　pinewood　fire；　'very

thoughtful　indeed。　It　is　quite　a　treat　to　hear　you　talk　about　friendship。　I

am　sure　the　clergyman　himself　could　not　say　such　beautiful　things　as　you

do；　though　he　does　live　in　a　three…storied　house；　and　wear　a　gold　ring　on

his　little　finger。'

〃'But　could　we　not　ask　little　Hans　up　here？'　said　the　Miller's　youngest

son。　'If　poor　Hans　is　in　trouble　I　will　give　him　half　my　porridge；　and

show　him　my　white　rabbits。'

〃'What　a　silly　boy　you　are'！　cried　the　Miller；　'I　really　don't　know　what

is　the　use　of　sending　you　to　school。　You　seem　not　to　learn　anything。

Why；　if　little　Hans　came　up　here；　and　saw　our　warm　fire；　and　our　good

supper；　and　our　great　cask　of　red　wine；　he　might　get　envious；　and　envy　is　a

most　terrible　thing；　and　would　spoil　anybody's　nature。　I　certainly　will　not

26

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

allow　Hans'　nature　to　be　spoiled。　I　am　his　best　friend；　and　I　will　always

watch　over　him；　and　see　that　he　is　not　led　into　any　temptations。　Besides；

if　Hans　came　here；　he　might　ask　me　to　let　him　have　some　flour　on　credit；

and　that　I　could　not　do。　Flour　is　on