Chapter 8

           Isoonlearnedtoknowthatflowerbetter. Onthelittleprince’splanet,therehadalwaysbeenverysimpleflowers, decoratedwithasinglerowofpetalssothattheytookupnoroomatallandgotinnoone’sway. Theywouldappearonemorninginthegrass,andwouldfadebynightfall. Butthisonehadgrownfromaseedbroughtfromwhoknowswhere, andthelittleprincehadkeptaclosewatchoverasproutthatwasnotlikeanyoftheothers. Itmighthavebeenanewkindofbaobab. Butthesproutsoonstoppedgrowingandbegantoshowsignsofblossoming. 

           Thelittleprince,whohadwatchedthedevelopmentofanenormousbud,realizedthatsomesortofmiraculousapparitionwouldemergefromit, buttheflowercontinuedherbeautypreparationsintheshelterofhergreenchamber, selectinghercolorswiththegreatestcareanddressingquitedeliberately,adjustingherpetalsonebyone. Shehadnodesiretoemergeallrumpled,likethepoppies. Shewishedtoappearonlyinthefullradianceofherbeauty. Ohyes,shewasquitevain!Andhermysteriousadornmenthadlasteddaysanddays. Andthenonemorning,preciselyatsunrise,sheshowedherself. 

           Andafterhavinglaboredsopainstakingly,sheyawnedandsaid,"Ah!I’mhardlyawake... Forgiveme...I’mstillalluntidy..." 

           Butthelittleprincecouldn’tcontainhisadmiration. 

           "Howlovelyyouare!" 

           "Aren’tI?"thefloweransweredsweetly. "AndIwasbornthesametimeasthesun..." 

           Thelittleprincerealizedthatshewasn’tanytoomodest, butshewassodazzling!