a　Green　Lin；　who　was　sitting　in　a　willow…tree　hard　by；　and　had

overheard　the　conversation。

〃Yes；　that　is　just　what　I　want　to　know；〃　said　the　Duck；　and　she　swam

away　to　the　end　of　the　pond；　and　stood　upon　her　head；　in　order　to　give　her

children　a　good　example。

〃What　a　silly　question！〃　cried　the　Water…rat。　〃I　should　expect　my

24

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

devoted　friend　to　be　devoted　to　me；　of　course。〃

〃And　what　would　you　do　in　return？〃　said　the　little　bird；　swinging　upon

a　silver　spray；　and　flapping　his　tiny　wings。

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　answered　the　Water…rat。

〃Let　me　tell　you　a　story　on　the　subject；〃　said　the　Lin。

〃Is　the　story　about　me？〃　asked　the　Water…rat。　〃If　so；　I　will　listen　to　it；

for　I　am　extremely　fond　of　fiction。〃

〃It　is　applicable　to　you；〃　answered　the　Lin；　and　he　flew　down；　and

alighting　upon　the　bank；　he　told　the　story　of　The　Devoted　Friend。

〃Once　upon　a　time；〃　said　the　Lin；　〃there　was　an　honest　little　fellow

named　Hans。〃

〃Was　he　very　distinguished？〃　asked　the　Water…rat。

〃No；〃　answered　the　Lin；　〃I　don't　think　he　was　distinguished　at　all；

except　for　his　kind　heart；　and　his　funny　round　good…humoured　face。　He

lived　in　a　tiny　cottage　all　by　himself；　and　every　day　he　worked　in　his

garden。　In　all　the　country…side　there　was　no　garden　so　lovely　as　his。

Sweet…william　grew　there；　and　Gilly…flow