第8部分(第4/7 页)

would　never　speak；　except　with　a　sneer；　shot　up　into　the　sky　like

wonderful　golden　flowers　with　blossoms　of　fire。　Huzza！　Huzza！　cried

42

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

the　Court；　and　the　little　Princess　laughed　with　pleasure。

〃I　suppose　they　are　reserving　me　for　some　grand　occasion；〃　said　the

Rocket；　〃no　doubt　that　is　what　it　means；〃　and　he　looked　more　supercilious

than　ever。

The　next　day　the　workmen　came　to　put　everything　tidy。　〃This　is

evidently　a　deputation；〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃I　will　receive　them　with

being　dignity〃　so　he　put　his　nose　in　the　air；　and　began　to　frown

severely　as　if　he　were　thinking　about　some　very　important　subject。　But

they　took　no　notice　of　him　at　all　till　they　were　just　going　away。　Then　one

of　them　caught　sight　of　him。　〃Hallo！〃　he　cried；　〃what　a　bad　rocket！〃　and

he　threw　him　over　the　wall　into　the　ditch。

〃BAD　Rocket？　BAD　Rocket？〃　he　said；　as　he　whirled　through　the　air；

〃impossible！　GRAND　Rocket；　that　is　what　the　man　said。　BAD　and

GRAND　sound　very　much　the　same；　indeed　they　often　are　the　same〃；　and

he　fell　into　the　mud。

〃It　is　not　fortable　here；〃　he　remarked；　〃but　no　doubt　it　is　some

fashionable　watering…place；　and　they　have　sent　me　away　to　recruit　my

health。　My　nerves　are　certainly　very　much　shattered；　and　I　require　rest。〃

Then　a　little　Frog；　with　bright　jewelled　eyes；　and　a　green　mottled　coat；

swam　up　to　him。

〃A　new　arrival；　I　see！〃　said　the　Frog。　〃Well；　after　all　there　is　nothing

like　mud。　Give　me　rainy　weather　and　a　ditch；　and　I　am　quite　happy。　Do

you　think　it　will　be　a　wet　afternoon？　I　am　sure　I　hope　so；　but　the　sky　is

quite　blue　and　cloudless。　What　a