at　his　little　son；　who　felt　so　ashamed　of　himself　that　he　hung　his　head

down；　and　grew　quite　scarlet；　and　began　to　cry　into　his　tea。　However；　he

was　so　young　that　you　must　excuse　him。〃

〃Is　that　the　end　of　the　story？〃　asked　the　Water…rat。

〃Certainly　not；〃　answered　the　Lin；　〃that　is　the　beginning。〃

〃Then　you　are　quite　behind　the　age；〃　said　the　Water…rat。　〃Every　good

story…teller　nowadays　starts　with　the　end；　and　then　goes　on　to　the

beginning；　and　concludes　with　the　middle。　That　is　the　new　method。　I

heard　all　about　it　the　other　day　from　a　critic　who　was　walking　round　the

pond　with　a　young　man。　He　spoke　of　the　matter　at　great　length；　and　I　am

sure　he　must　have　been　right；　for　he　had　blue　spectacles　and　a　bald　head；

and　whenever　the　young　man　made　any　remark；　he　always　answered

'Pooh！'　But　pray　go　on　with　your　story。　I　like　the　Miller　immensely。　I

have　all　kinds　of　beautiful　sentiments　myself；　so　there　is　a　great　sympathy

between　us。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　Lin；　hopping　now　on　one　leg　and　now　on　the　other；

〃as　soon　as　the　winter　was　over；　and　the　primroses　began　to　open　their　pale

yellow　stars；　the　Miller　said　to　his　wife　that　he　would　go　down　and　see

little　Hans。

〃'Why；　what　a　good　heart　you　have'！　cried　his　Wife；　'you　are　always

27

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

thinking　of　others。 And　mind　you　take　the　big　basket　with　yo