ere；　for　he　did　not

approve　of　children　dreaming。

One　night　there　flew　over　the　city　a　little　Swallow。　His　friends　had

gone　away　to　Egypt　six　weeks　before；　but　he　had　stayed　behind；　for　he

was　in　love　with　the　most　beautiful　Reed。　He　had　met　her　early　in　the

spring　as　he　was　flying　down　the　river　after　a　big　yellow　moth；　and　had

been　so　attracted　by　her　slender　waist　that　he　had　stopped　to　talk　to　her。

〃Shall　I　love　you？〃　said　the　Swallow；　who　liked　to　e　to　the　point　at

once；　and　the　Reed　made　him　a　low　bow。　So　he　flew　round　and　round

her；　touching　the　water　with　his　wings；　and　making　silver　ripples。　This

2 The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

was　his　courtship；　and　it　lasted　all　through　the　summer。

〃It　is　a　ridiculous　attachment；〃　twittered　the　other　Swallows；　〃she　has

no　money；　and　far　too　many　relations〃；　and　indeed　the　river　was　quite　full

of　Reeds。　Then；　when　the　autumn　came　they　all　flew　away。

After　they　had　gone　he　felt　lonely；　and　began　to　tire　of　his　lady…　love。

〃She　has　no　conversation；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　am　afraid　that　she　is　a　coquette；

for　she　is　always　flirting　with　the　wind。〃　And　certainly；　whenever　the

wind　blew；　the　Reed　made　the　most　graceful　curtseys。　〃I　admit　that　she

is　domestic；〃　he　continued；　〃but　I　love　travelling；　and　my　wife；

consequently；　should　love　travelling　also。〃

〃Will　you　e　away　with　me？〃　he　said　finally