to　her；　but　the　Reed

shook　her　head；　she　was　so　attached　to　her　home。

〃You　have　been　trifling　with　me；〃　he　cried。　〃I　am　off　to　the　Pyramids。

Good…bye！〃　and　he　flew　away。

All　day　long　he　flew；　and　at　night…time　he　arrived　at　the　city。　〃Where

shall　I　put　up？〃　he　said；　〃I　hope　the　town　has　made　preparations。〃

Then　he　saw　the　statue　on　the　tall　column。

〃I　will　put　up　there；〃　he　cried；　〃it　is　a　fine　position；　with　plenty　of　fresh

air。〃　So　he　alighted　just　between　the　feet　of　the　Happy　Prince。

〃I　have　a　golden　bedroom；〃　he　said　softly　to　himself　as　he　looked

round；　and　he　prepared　to　go　to　sleep；　but　just　as　he　was　putting　his　head

under　his　wing　a　large　drop　of　water　fell　on　him。　〃What　a　curious　thing！〃

he　cried；　〃there　is　not　a　single　cloud　in　the　sky；　the　stars　are　quite　clear　and

bright；　and　yet　it　is　raining。　The　climate　in　the　north　of　Europe　is　really

dreadful。　The　Reed　used　to　like　the　rain；　but　that　was　merely　her

selfishness。〃

Then　another　drop　fell。

〃What　is　the　use　of　a　statue　if　it　cannot　keep　the　rain　off？〃　he　said；　〃I

must　look　for　a　good　chimney…pot；〃　and　he　determined　to　fly　away。

But　before　he　had　opened　his　wings；　a　third　drop　fell；　and　he　looked　up；

and　saw　…　Ah！　what　did　he　see？

The　eyes　of　the　Happy　Prince　were　filled　with　tears；　and　tears　were

3　The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

running　down　his　golde