Щасливий принц та інші казки
The Remarkable Rocket
Doyouthinkitwillbeawetafternoon?IamsureIhopeso,buttheskyisquiteblueandcloudless.Whatapity!"
"Ahem!ahem!"saidtheRocket,andhebegantocough.
"Whatadelightfulvoiceyouhave!"criedtheFrog."Reallyitisquitelikeacroak,andcroakingisofcoursethemostmusicalsoundintheworld.Youwillhearourglee-clubthisevening.Wesitintheoldduckpondclosebythefarmer’shouse,andassoonasthemoonriseswebegin.Itissoentrancingthateverybodyliesawaketolistentous.Infact,itwasonlyyesterdaythatIheardthefarmer’swifesaytohermotherthatshecouldnotgetawinkofsleepatnightonaccountofus.Itismostgratifyingtofindoneselfsopopular."
"Ahem!ahem!"saidtheRocketangrily.Hewasverymuchannoyedthathecouldnotgetawordin.
"Adelightfulvoice,certainly,"continuedtheFrog;"Ihopeyouwillcomeovertotheduck-pond.Iamofftolookformydaughters.Ihavesixbeautifuldaughters,andIamsoafraidthePikemaymeetthem.Heisaperfectmonster,andwouldhavenohesitationinbreakfastingoffthem.Well,good-bye:Ihaveenjoyedourconversationverymuch,Iassureyou."
"Conversation,indeed!"saidtheRocket."Youhavetalkedthewholetimeyourself.Thatisnotconversation."
"Somebodymustlisten,"answeredtheFrog,"andIliketodoallthetalkingmyself.Itsavestime,andpreventsarguments."
"ButIlikearguments,"saidtheRocket.
"Ihopenot,"saidtheFrogcomplacently.
