〃Certainly；〃　exclaimed　the　Bengal　Light；　who　was　now　in　better　spirits；

〃that　is　only　mon　sense。〃

〃mon　sense；　indeed！〃　said　the　Rocket　indignantly；　〃you　forget　that

I　am　very　unmon；　and　very　remarkable。　Why；　anybody　can　have

mon　sense；　provided　that　they　have　no　imagination。　But　I　have

imagination；　for　I　never　think　of　things　as　they　really　are；　I　always　think　of

them　as　being　quite　different。　As　for　keeping　myself　dry；　there　is

evidently　no　one　here　who　can　at　all　appreciate　an　emotional　nature。

Fortunately　for　myself；　I　don't　care。　The　only　thing　that　sustains　one

through　life　is　the　consciousness　of　the　immense　inferiority　of　everybody

else；　and　this　is　a　feeling　that　I　have　always　cultivated。　But　none　of　you

have　any　hearts。　Here　you　are　laughing　and　making　merry　just　as　if　the

Prince　and　Princess　had　not　just　been　married。〃

〃Well；　really；〃　exclaimed　a　small　Fire…balloon；　〃why　not？　It　is　a　most

40

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

joyful　occasion；　and　when　I　soar　up　into　the　air　I　intend　to　tell　the　stars　all

about　it。　You　will　see　them　twinkle　when　I　talk　to　them　about　the　pretty

bride。〃

〃Ah！　what　a　trivial　view　of　life！〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃but　it　is　only　what　I

expected。　There　is　nothing　in　you；　you　are　hollow　and　empty。　Why；

perhaps　the　Prince　and　Princess　may　go　to　live　in　a　country　where　there　is

a　deep　river；　and