ask　little　Hans　up　here？'　said　the　Miller's　youngest

son。　'If　poor　Hans　is　in　trouble　I　will　give　him　half　my　porridge；　and

show　him　my　white　rabbits。'

〃'What　a　silly　boy　you　are'！　cried　the　Miller；　'I　really　don't　know　what

is　the　use　of　sending　you　to　school。　You　seem　not　to　learn　anything。

Why；　if　little　Hans　came　up　here；　and　saw　our　warm　fire；　and　our　good

supper；　and　our　great　cask　of　red　wine；　he　might　get　envious；　and　envy　is　a

most　terrible　thing；　and　would　spoil　anybody's　nature。　I　certainly　will　not

26

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

allow　Hans'　nature　to　be　spoiled。　I　am　his　best　friend；　and　I　will　always

watch　over　him；　and　see　that　he　is　not　led　into　any　temptations。　Besides；

if　Hans　came　here；　he　might　ask　me　to　let　him　have　some　flour　on　credit；

and　that　I　could　not　do。　Flour　is　one　thing；　and　friendship　is　another；　and

they　should　not　be　confused。　Why；　the　words　are　spelt　differently；　and

mean　quite　different　things。　Everybody　can　see　that。'

〃'How　well　you　talk'！　said　the　Miller's　Wife；　pouring　herself　out　a　large

glass　of　warm　ale；　'really　I　feel　quite　drowsy。　It　is　just　like　being　in

church。'

〃'Lots　of　people　act　well；'　answered　the　Miller；　'but　very　few　people

talk　well；　which　shows　that　talking　is　much　the　more　difficult　thing　of　the

two；　and　much　the　finer　thing　also'；　and　he　looked　sternly　across　the　table