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〃that is the important thing。〃
〃very important for you； i have no doubt；〃 answered the rocket；
〃but i shall weep if i choose〃； and he actually burst into real
tears； which flowed down his stick like rain…drops； and nearly
drowned two little beetles； who were just thinking of setting up
house together； and were looking for a nice dry spot to live in。
〃he must have a truly romantic nature；〃 said the catherine wheel；
〃for he weeps when there is nothing at all to weep about〃； and she
heaved a deep sigh； and thought about the deal box。
but the roman candle and the bengal light were quite indignant； and
kept saying； 〃humbug！ humbug！〃 at the top of their voices。 they
were extremely practical； and whenever they objected to anything
they called it humbug。
then the moon rose like a wonderful silver shield； and the stars
began to shine； and a sound of music came from the palace。
the prince and princess were leading the dance。 they danced so
beautifully that the tall white lilies peeped in at the window and
watched them； and the great red poppies nodded their heads and beat
time。
then ten oclock struck； and then eleven； and then twelve； and at
the last stroke of midnight every one came out on the terrace； and
the king sent for the royal pyrotechnist。
〃let the fireworks begin；〃 said the king； and the royal
pyrotechnist made a low bow； and marched down to the end of the
garden。 he had six attendants with him； each of whom carried a
lighted torch at the end of a long pole。
it was certainly a magnificent display。
whizz！ whizz！ went the catherine wheel； as she spun round and
round。 boom！ boom！ went the roman candle。 then the squibs danced
all over the place； and the bengal lights made everything look
scarlet。 〃good…bye；〃 cried the fire…balloon； as he soared away；
dropping tiny blue sparks。 bang！ bang！ answered the crackers； who
were enjoying themselves immensely。 every one was a great success
except the remarkable rocket。 he was so damp with crying that he
could not go off at all。 the best thing in him was the gunpowder；
and that was so wet with tears that it was of no use。 all his poor
relations； to whom he would never speak； except with a sneer； shot
up into the sky like wonderful golden flowers with blossoms of
fire。 huzza！ huzza！ cried the court； and the little princess
laughed with pleasure。
〃i suppose they are reserving me for some grand occasion；〃 said the
rocket； 〃no doubt that is what it means；〃 and he looked more
supercilious than ever。
the next day the workmen came to put everything tidy。 〃this is
evidently a deputation；〃 said the rocket； 〃i will receive them with
being dignity〃 so he put his nose in the air； and began to frown
severely as if he were thinking about some very important subject。
but they took no notice of him at all till they were just going
away。 then one of them caught sight of him。 〃hallo！〃 he cried；
〃what a bad rocket！〃 and he threw him over the wall into the ditch。
〃bad rocket？ bad rocket？〃 he said； as he whirled through the air；
〃impossible！ grand rocket； that is what the man said。 bad and
grand sound very much the same； indeed they often are the same〃；
and he fell into the mud。
〃it is not fortable here；〃 he remarked； 〃but no doubt it is some
fashionable watering…place； and they have sent me away to recruit
my health。 my nerves are certainly very much shattered； and i
require rest。〃
then a little frog； with bright jewelled eyes； and a green mottled
coat； swam up to him。
〃a new arrival； i see！〃 said the frog。 〃well； after all there is
nothing like mud。 give me rainy weather and a ditch； and i am
quite happy。 do you think it will be a wet afternoon？ i am sure i
hope so； but the sky is quite blue and cloudless。 what a pity！〃
〃ahem！ ahem！〃 said the rocket； and he began to cough。
〃what a delightful voice you have！〃 cried the frog。 〃really it is
quite like a croak； and croaking is of course the most musical
sound in the world。 you will hear our glee…club this evening。 we
sit in the old duck pond close by the farmers house； and as soon
as the moon rises we begin。 it is so entrancing that everybody
lies awake to listen to us。 in fact； it was only yesterday that i
heard the farmers wife say to her mother that she could not get a
wink of sleep at night on account of us。 it is most gratifying to
find oneself so popular。〃
〃ahem！ ahem！〃 said the rocket angrily。 he was very much annoyed
that he could not get a word in。
〃a delightful voice； certainly；〃 continued the frog； 〃i hope you
will e over to the duck…pond。 i am off to look for my
daughters。 i have six beautiful daughters； and i am so afraid the
pike may meet them。 he is a perfect monster； and would have no
hesitation in breakfasting off them。 well； good…bye： i have
enjoyed our conversation very much； i assure you。〃
〃conversation； indeed！〃 said the rocket。 〃you have talked the
whole time yourself。 that is not conversation。〃
〃somebody must listen；〃 answered the frog； 〃and i like to do all
the talking myself。 it saves time； and prevents arguments。〃
〃but i like arguments；〃 said the rocket。
〃i hope not；〃 said the frog placently。 〃arguments are extremely
vulgar； for everybody in good society holds exactly the same
opinions。 good…bye a second time； i see my daughters in the
distance and the little frog swam away。
〃you are a very irritating person；〃 said the rocket； 〃and very ill…
bred。 i hate people who talk about themselves； as you do； when one
wants to talk about oneself； as i do。 it is what i call
selfishness； and selfishness is a most detestable thing； especially
to any one of my temperament； for i am well known for my
sympathetic nature。 in fact； you should take example by me； you
could not possibly have a better model。 now that you have the
chance you had better avail yourself of it； for i am going back to
court almost immediately。 i am a great favourite at court； in
fact； the prince and princess were married yesterday in my honour。
of course you know nothing of these matters； for you are a
provincial。〃
〃there is no good talking to him；〃 said a dragon…fly； who was
sitting on the top of a large brown bulrush； 〃no good at all； for
he has gone away。〃
〃well； that is his loss； not mine；〃 answered the rocket。 〃i am not
going to stop talking to him merely because he pays no attention。
i like hearing myself talk。 it is one of my greatest pleasures。 i
often have long conversations all by myself； and i am so clever
that sometimes i dont understand a single word of what i am
saying。〃
〃then you should certainly lecture on philosophy；〃 said the dragon…
fly； and he spread a pair of lovely gauze wings and soared away
into the sky。
〃how very silly of him not to stay here！〃 said the rocket。 〃i am
sure that he has not often got such a chance of improving his mind。
however； i dont care a bit。 genius like mine is sure to be
appreciated some day〃； and he sank down a little deeper into the
mud