第8部分(第5/7 页)

　pity！〃

〃Ahem！　ahem！〃　said　the　Rocket；　and　he　began　to　cough。

〃What　a　delightful　voice　you　have！〃　cried　the　Frog。　〃Really　it　is

quite　like　a　croak；　and　croaking　is　of　course　the　most　musical　sound　in　the

world。　You　will　hear　our　glee…club　this　evening。　We　sit　in　the　old　duck

pond　close　by　the　farmer's　house；　and　as　soon　as　the　moon　rises　we　begin。

It　is　so　entrancing　that　everybody　lies　awake　to　listen　to　us。　In　fact；　it

was　only　yesterday　that　I　heard　the　farmer's　wife　say　to　her　mother　that

she　could　not　get　a　wink　of　sleep　at　night　on　account　of　us。　It　is　most

43

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

gratifying　to　find　oneself　so　popular。〃

〃Ahem！　ahem！〃　said　the　Rocket　angrily。　He　was　very　much　annoyed

that　he　could　not　get　a　word　in。

〃A　delightful　voice；　certainly；〃　continued　the　Frog；　〃I　hope　you　will

e　over　to　the　duck…pond。　I　am　off　to　look　for　my　daughters。　I　have

six　beautiful　daughters；　and　I　am　so　afraid　the　Pike　may　meet　them。　He

is　a　perfect　monster；　and　would　have　no　hesitation　in　breakfasting　off　them。

Well；　good…bye：　I　have　enjoyed　our　conversation　very　much；　I　assure

you。〃

〃Conversation；　indeed！〃　said　the　Rocket。　〃You　have　talked　the　whole

time　yourself。　That　is　not　conversation。〃

〃Somebody　must　listen；〃　answered　the　Frog；　〃and　I　like　to　do　all　the

talking　myself。　It　saves　time；　and　prevents　arguments。〃

〃But　I　like　arguments；〃　said　the　Rocket。

〃I　hope　not；〃　said　the　Frog　placently。　〃Arguments　are　extremely

vulgar；　for　everybody　in　good　society　holds　exactly　the　same　opinions。

Good…bye　a　second　time；　I　see　my　daughters　in　the　distance　and　the　little

Frog　swam　away。