第5部分(第5/7 页)

pale

yellow　stars；　the　Miller　said　to　his　wife　that　he　would　go　down　and　see

little　Hans。

〃'Why；　what　a　good　heart　you　have'！　cried　his　Wife；　'you　are　always

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The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

thinking　of　others。 And　mind　you　take　the　big　basket　with　you　for　the

flowers。'

〃So　the　Miller　tied　the　sails　of　the　windmill　together　with　a　strong　iron

chain；　and　went　down　the　hill　with　the　basket　on　his　arm。

〃'Good　morning；　little　Hans；'　said　the　Miller。

〃'Good　morning；'　said　Hans；　leaning　on　his　spade；　and　smiling　from

ear　to　ear。

〃'And　how　have　you　been　all　the　winter？'　said　the　Miller。

〃'Well；　really；'　cried　Hans；　'it　is　very　good　of　you　to　ask；　very　good

indeed。　I　am　afraid　I　had　rather　a　hard　time　of　it；　but　now　the　spring　has

e；　and　I　am　quite　happy；　and　all　my　flowers　are　doing　well。'

〃'We　often　talked　of　you　during　the　winter；　Hans；'　said　the　Miller；　'and

wondered　how　you　were　getting　on。'

〃'That　was　kind　of　you；'　said　Hans；　'I　was　half　afraid　you　had　forgotten

me。'

〃'Hans；　I　am　surprised　at　you；'　said　the　Miller；　'friendship　never　forgets。

That　is　the　wonderful　thing　about　it；　but　I　am　afraid　you　don't　understand

the　poetry　of　life。　How　lovely　your　primroses　are　looking；　by…the…bye〃！

〃'They　are　certainly　very　lovely；'　said　Hans；　'and　it　is　a　most　lucky

thing　for　me　that　I　have　so　many。　I　am　going　to　bring　them　into　the

market　and　sell　them　to　the　Burgomaster's　daughter；　and　buy　back　my

wheelbarrow　with　the　money。'

〃'Buy　back　your　wheelbarrow？　You　don't　mean　to　say　you　have　sold

it？　What　a　very　stupid　thing　to　do'！

〃'Well；　the　fact　is；'　said　Hans；　'that　I　wa