第8部分(第2/7 頁)

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and　be　drowned。　What　a　terrible　misfortune！　Poor　people；　to　lose　their

only　son！　It　is　really　too　dreadful！　I　shall　never　get　over　it。〃

〃But　they　have　not　lost　their　only　son；〃　said　the　Roman　Candle；　〃no

misfortune　has　happened　to　them　at　all。〃

〃I　never　said　that　they　had；〃　replied　the　Rocket；　〃I　said　that　they　might。

If　they　had　lost　their　only　son　there　would　be　no　use　in　saying　anything

more　about　the　matter。　I　hate　people　who　cry　over　spilt　milk。　But　when

I　think　that　they　might　lose　their　only　son；　I　certainly　am　very　much

affected。〃

〃You　certainly　are！〃　cried　the　Bengal　Light。　〃In　fact；　you　are　the

most　affected　person　I　ever　met。〃

〃You　are　the　rudest　person　I　ever　met；〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃and　you

cannot　understand　my　friendship　for　the　Prince。〃

〃Why；　you　don't　even　know　him；〃　growled　the　Roman　Candle。

〃I　never　said　I　knew　him；〃　answered　the　Rocket。　〃I　dare　say　that　if　I

knew　him　I　should　not　be　his　friend　at　all。　It　is　a　very　dangerous　thing　to

know　one's　friends。〃　〃You　had　really　better　keep　yourself　dry；〃　said　the

Fire…balloon。　〃That　is　the　important　thing。〃

〃Very　important　for　you；　I　have　no　doubt；〃　answered　the　Rocket；　〃but　I

shall　weep　if　I　choose〃；　and　he　actually　burst　into　real　tears；　which　flowed

down　his　stick　like　rain…drops；　and　nearly　drowned　two　little　beetles；　who

were　just　thinking　of　setting　up　house　together；　and　were　looking　for　a

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The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

nice　dry　spot　to　live　in。

〃He　must　have　a　truly　romantic　nature；〃　said　the　Catherine　Wheel；　〃for

he　weeps　when　there　is　nothing　at　all　to　weep　about〃；　and　she　heaved　a

deep　sigh；　and　tho