he　Chamberlain's　nephew　has　sent　me　some　real　jewels；　and　everybody

17

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

knows　that　jewels　cost　far　more　than　flowers。〃

〃Well；　upon　my　word；　you　are　very　ungrateful；〃　said　the　Student

angrily；　and　he　threw　the　rose　into　the　street；　where　it　fell　into　the　gutter；

and　a　cart…wheel　went　over　it。

〃Ungrateful！〃　said　the　girl。　〃I　tell　you　what；　you　are　very　rude；　and；

after　all；　who　are　you？　Only　a　Student。　Why；　I　don't　believe　you　have

even　got　silver　buckles　to　your　shoes　as　the　Chamberlain's　nephew　has〃；

and　she　got　up　from　her　chair　and　went　into　the　house。

〃What　I　a　silly　thing　Love　is；〃　said　the　Student　as　he　walked　away。　〃It

is　not　half　as　useful　as　Logic；　for　it　does　not　prove　anything；　and　it　is

always　telling　one　of　things　that　are　not　going　to　happen；　and　making　one

believe　things　that　are　not　true。　In　fact；　it　is　quite　unpractical；　and；　as　in

this　age　to　be　practical　is　everything；　I　shall　go　back　to　Philosophy　and

study　Metaphysics。〃

So　he　returned　to　his　room　and