the light princess(光明公主)-第6部分
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No one had ever succeeded in putting her into a passion before。…
before。When the prince saw her ascend； he thought he must have been
bewitched； and have mistaken a great swan for a lady。 But the princess
caught hold of the topmost cone upon a lofty fir。 This came off； but she
caught at another； and； in fact； stopped herself by gathering cones；
dropping them as the stalks gave way。 The prince； meantime； stood in
the water； staring； and forgetting to get out。 But the princess
disappearing； he scrambled on shore； and went in the direction of the tree。
There he found her climbing down one of the branches towards the stem。
But in the darkness of the wood； the prince continued in some
bewilderment as to what the phenomenon could be； until； reaching the
ground； and seeing him standing there； she caught hold of him； and said；
〃I'll tell papa。〃
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〃Oh no； you won't！〃 returned the prince。
〃Yes； I will；〃 she persisted。 〃What business had you to pull me down
out of the water； and throw me to the bottom of the air？ I never did you
any harm。〃
〃Pardon me。 I did not mean to hurt you。〃
〃I don't believe you have any brains； and that is a worse loss than your
wretched gravity。 I pity you。'
The prince now saw that he had come upon the bewitched princess；
and had already offended her。 But before he could think what to say next；
she burst out angrily； giving a stamp with her foot that would have sent her
aloft again but for the hold she had of his arm；
〃Put me up directly。〃
〃Put you up where； you beauty？〃 asked the prince。
He had fallen in love with her almost； already； for her anger made her
more charming than any one else had ever beheld her； and； as far as he
could see； which certainly was not far； she had not a single fault about her；
except； of course； that she had not any gravity。 No prince； however；
would judge of a princess by weight。 The loveliness of her foot he would
hardly estimate by the depth of the impression it could make in mud。
〃Put you up where； you beauty？〃 asked the prince。
〃In the water； you stupid！〃 answered the princess。
〃Come； then；〃 said the prince。
The condition of her dress； increasing her usual difficulty in walking；
compelled her to cling to him； and he could hardly persuade himself that
he was not in a delightful dream； notwithstanding the torrent of musical
abuse with which she overwhelmed him。 The prince being therefore in
no hurry； they came upon the lake at quite another part； where the bank
was twenty…five feet high at least； and when they had reached the edge； he
turned towards the princess； and said；
〃How am I to put you in？〃 〃That is your business；〃 she answered；
quite snappishly。 〃You took me output me in again。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the prince； and； catching her up in his arms； he
sprang with her from the rock。 The princess had just time to give one
delighted shriek of laughter before the water closed over them。 When they
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came to the surface； she found that； for a moment or two； she could not
even laugh； for she had gone down with such a rush； that it was with
difficulty she recovered her breath。 The instant they reached the surface…
…
〃How do you like falling in？〃 said the prince。
After some effort the princess panted out；
〃Is that what you call FALLING IN？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered the prince； 〃I should think it a very tolerable
specimen。〃
〃It seemed to me like going up；〃 rejoined she。
〃My feeling was certainly one of elevation too；〃 the prince conceded。
The princess did not appear to understand him； for she retorted his
question：
〃How do YOU like falling in？〃 said the princess。
〃Beyond everything；〃 answered he； 〃for I have fallen in with the only
perfect creature I ever saw。〃
〃No more of that： I am tired of it；〃 said the princess。
Perhaps she shared her father's aversion to punning。
〃Don't you like falling in then？〃 said the prince。
〃It is the most delightful fun I ever had in my life；〃 answered she。 〃I
never fell before。 I wish I could learn。 To think I am the only person in
my father's kingdom that can't fall！〃
Here the poor princess looked almost sad。
〃I shall be most happy to fall in with you any time you like；〃 said the
prince； devotedly。
〃Thank you。 I don't know。 Perhaps it would not be proper。 But I
don't care。 At all events； as we have fallen in； let us have a swim
together。〃
〃With all my heart；〃 responded the prince。
And away they went； swimming； and diving； and floating； until at last
they heard cries along the shore； and saw lights glancing in all directions。
It was now quite late； and there was no moon。
〃I must go home；〃 said the princess。 〃I am very sorry； for this is
delightful。〃
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〃So am I；〃 returned the prince。 〃But I am glad I haven't a home to go
toat least； I don't exactly know where it is。〃
〃I wish I hadn't one either；〃 rejoined the princess； 〃it is so stupid！ I
have a great mind；〃 she continued； 〃to play them all a trick。 Why
couldn't they leave me alone？ They won't trust me in the lake for a single
night！You see where that green light is burning？ That is the window of
my room。 Now if you would just swim there with me very quietly； and
when we are all but under the balcony； give me such a pushup you call
it…as you did a little while ago； I should be able to catch hold of the
balcony； and get in at the window； and then they may look for me till to…
morrow morning！〃
〃With more obedience than pleasure；〃 said the prince； gallantly； and
away they swam； very gently。
〃Will you be in the lake to…morrow night？〃 the prince ventured to ask。
〃To be sure I will。 I don't think so。 Perhaps；〃 was the princess's
somewhat strange answer。
But the prince was intelligent enough not to press her further； and
merely whispered； as he gave her the parting lift； 〃Don't tell。〃
The only answer the princess returned was a roguish look。 She was
already a yard above his head。 The look seemed to say； 〃Never fear。 It is
too good fun to spoil that way。〃
So perfectly like other people had she been in the water； that even yet
the prince could scarcely believe his eyes when he saw her ascend slowly；
grasp the balcony； and disappear through the window。 He turned； almost
expecting to see her still by his side。 But he was alone in the water。 So
he swam away quietly； and watched the lights roving about the shore for
hours after the princess was safe in her chamber。 As soon as they
disappeared； he landed in search of his tunic and sword； and； after some
trouble； found them again。 Then he made the best of his way round the
lake to the other side。 There the wood was wilder； and the shore steeper…
rising more immediately towards the mountains which surrounded the lake
on all sides； and kept sending it messages of silvery streams from morning
to night； and all night long。 He soon found a spot whence he could see
the green light in the princess's room； and where； even in the broad
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daylight； he would be in no danger of being discovered from the opposite
shore。 It was a sort of cave in the rock； where he provided himself a bed
of withered leaves； and lay down too tired for hunger to keep him awake。
All night long he dreamed that he was swimming with the princess。
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10。 Look at the Moon。
Early the next morning the prince set out to look for something to eat；
which he soon found at a forester's hut； where for many following days he
was supplied with all that a brave prince could consider necessary。 And
having plenty to keep him alive for the present； he would not think of
wants not yet in existence。 Whenever Care intruded； this prince always
bowed him out in the most princely manner。 When he returned from his
breakfast to his watch…cave； he saw the princess already floating about in
the lake； attended by the king and queen whom he knew by their crowns
and a great company in lovely little boats； with canopies of all the colours
of the rainbow； and flags and streamers of a great many more。 It was a
very bright day； and soon the prince； burned up with the heat； began to
long for the cold water and the cool princess。 But he had to endure
