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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
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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。
〃You are a very irritating person；〃 said the Rocket； 〃and very ill… bred。
I hate people who talk about themselves； as you do； when one wants to
talk about oneself； as I do。 It is what I call selfishness； and selfishness is
a most detestable thing； especially to any one of my temperament； for I am
well known for my sympathetic nature。 In fact； you should take example
by me； you could not possibly have a better model。 Now that you have
the chance you had better avail yourself of it； for I am going back to Court
almost immediately。 I am a great favourite at Court； in fact； the Prince
and Princess were married yesterday in my honour。 Of course you know
nothing of these matters； for you are a provincial。〃
〃There is no good talking to him；〃 said a Dragon…fly； who was sitting
on the top of a large brown bulrush； 〃no good at all； for he has gone
away。〃
〃Well； that is his loss； not mine；〃 answered the Rocket。 〃I am not
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
going to stop talking to him merely because he pays no attention。 I like
hearing myself talk。 It is one of my greatest pleasures。 I often have
long conversations all by myself； and I am so clever that sometimes I don't
understand a single word of what I am saying。〃
〃Then you should certainly lecture on Philosophy；〃 said the Dragon…
fly； and he spread a pair of lovely gauze wings and soared away into the
sky。
〃How very silly of him not to stay here！〃 said the Rocket。 〃I am sure
that he has not often got such a chance of improving his mind。 However； I
don't care a bit。 Genius like mine is sure to be appreciated some day〃；
and he sank down a little deeper into the mud。
After some time a large White Duck swam up to him。 She had
yellow legs； and webbed feet； and was considered a great beauty on
account of her waddle。
〃Quack； quack； quack；〃 she said。 〃What a curious shape you are！
May I ask were you born like that； or is it the result of an accident？〃
〃It is quite evident that you have always lived in the country；〃
answered the Rocket； 〃otherwise you would know who I am。 However； I
excuse your ignorance。 It would be unfair to expect other people to be as
remarkable as oneself。 You will no doubt be surprised to hear that I can
fly up into the sky； and e down in a shower of golden rain。〃
〃I don't think much of that；〃 said the Duck； 〃as I cannot see what use it
is to any one。 Now； if you could plough the fields like the ox； or draw a
cart like the horse； or look after the sheep like the collie…dog； that would
be something。〃
〃My good creature；〃 cried the Rocket in a very haughty tone of voice；
〃I see that you belong to the lower orders。 A person of my position is
never useful。 We have certain acplishments； and that is more than
sufficient。 I have no sympathy myself with industry of any kind； least of
all with such industries as you seem to remend。 Indeed； I have
always been of opinion that hard work is simply the refuge of people who
have nothing whatever to do。〃
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The Happy Prince and Other Tales
〃Well； well；〃 said the Duck； who was of a very peaceable disposition；
and never quarrelled with any one； 〃everybody has different tastes。 I
hope； at any rate； that you are going to take up your residence here。〃
〃Oh！ dear no；〃 cried the Rocket。 〃I am merely a visitor； a
distinguished visitor。 The fact is that I find this place rather tedious。
There is neither society here； nor solitude。 In fact； it is essentially
suburban。 I shall probably go back to Court； for I know that I am
destined to make a sensation in the world。〃
〃I had thoughts of entering public life once myself；〃 remarked the
Duck； 〃there are so many things that need reforming。 Indeed； I took the
chair at a meeting some time ago； and we passed resolutions condemning
everything that we did not like。 However； they did not seem to have
much effect。 Now I go in for domesticity； and look after my family。〃
〃I am made for public life；〃 said the Rocket； 〃and so are all my
relations； even the humblest of them。 Whenever we appear we excite
great attention。 I have not actually appeared myself； but when I do so it
will be a magnificent sight。 As for domesticity； it ages one rapidly； and
distracts one's mind from higher things。〃
〃Ah！ the higher things of life； how fine they are！〃 said the Duck； 〃and
that reminds me how hungry I feel〃：