“howforunaeiisforheking’sson,”heremarked,“haheisobemarriedonheverydayonwhichiamobeleoffreally,ifihadbeenarrangedbeforehand,icouldnohaveurnedoubeerforhim;bu,princesarealwayslucky”

“dearme!”saidhelilesquib,“ihoughiwasquieheoherway,andhawewereobeleoffinheprince’shonour”

“imaybesowihyou,”heanswered;“indeed,ihavenodoubhaiis,buwihmeiisdiffereniamaveryremarkablerocke,andcomeofremarkableparensmymoherwashemoscelebraedcaherinewheelofherday,andwasrenownedforhergracefuldancingwhenshemadehergreapublicappearanceshespunroundnieenimesbeforeshewenou,andeachimehashedidsoshehrewinoheairsevenpinksarsshewashreefeeandahalfindiameer,andmadeofheverybesgunpowdermyfaherwasarockelikemyself,andoffrenchexracionheflewsohighhahepeoplewereafraidhahewouldnevercomedownagainhedid,hough,forhewasofakindlydisposiion,andhemadeamosbrilliandesceninashowerofgoldenrainhenewspaperswroeabouhisperformanceinveryferingermsindeed,hecourgazeecalledhimariumphofpyloechnicar”

“pyroechnic,pyroechnic,youmean,”saidabengalligh;“iknowiispyroechnic,forisawiwrienonmyowncaniser”

“well,isaidpyloechnic,”answeredherocke,inasevereoneofvoice,andhebengallighfelsocrushedhahebeganaonceobullyhelilesquibs,inorderoshowhahewassillapersonofsomeimporance

“iwassaying,”coninuedherocke,“iwassaying—whawasisaying?”

“youwerealkingabouyourself,”repliedheromancandle

“ofcourse;iknewiwasdiscussingsomeineresingsubjecwheniwassorudelyinerrupedihaerudenessandbadma

ersofeverykind,foriamexremelysensiivenooneinhewholeworldissosensiiveasiam,iamquiesureofha”

“whaisasensiiveperson?”saidhecrackeroheromancandle

“apersonwho,becausehehascornshimself,alwaysreadsonoherpeople’soes,”answeredheromancandleinalowwhisper;andhecrackernearlyexplodedwihugher

第二十一章heremarkablerocke（二）

“pray,whaareyouughinga?”inquiredherocke;“iamnoughing”

“iamughingbecauseiamhappy,”repliedhecracker

“haisaveryselfishreason,”saidherockeangrily“wharighhaveyouobehappy?youshouldbehinkingabouohersinfac,youshouldbehinkingaboumeiamalwayshinkingaboumyself,andiexpeceverybodyelseodohesamehaiswhaiscalledsympahyiisabeauifulvirue,andipossessiinahighdegreesuppose,forinsance,anyhinghappenedomeonigh,whaamisforuhawouldbeforeveryone!heprinceandprincesswouldneverbehappyagain,heirwholemarriedlifewouldbespoiled;andasforheking,iknowhewouldnogeoverireally,whenibeginorefleconheimporanceofmyposiion,iamalmosmovedoears”

“ifyouwanogivepleasureoohers,”criedheromancandle,“youhadbeerkeepyourselfdry”

“cerainly,”excimedhebengalligh,whowasnowinbeerspiris;“haisonlycommonsense”

“commonsense,indeed!”saidherockeindignanly;“youforgehaiamveryuncommon,andveryremarkablewhy,anybodycanhavecommonsense,providedhaheyhavenoimaginaionbuihaveimaginaion,forineverhinkofhingsasheyreallyare;ialwayshinkofhemasbeingquiedifferenasforkeepingmyselfdry,hereisevidenlynooneherewhocanaallappreciaeanemoionalnaureforunaelyformyself,idon’careheonlyhinghasusainsohroughlifeisheconsciousnessofheimmenseinferioriyofeverybodyelse,andhisisafeelinghaihavealwaysculivaedbunoneofyouhaveanyhearshereyouareughingandmakingmerryjusasifheprinceandprincesshadnojusbeenmarried”

“well,really,”excimedasmallfireballoon,“whyno?iisamosjoyfuloccasion,andwhenisoarupinoheairiinendoellhesarsallabouiyouwillseehemwinklewhenialkohemabouhepreybride”

“ah!whaarivialviewoflife!”saidherocke;“buiisonlywhaiexpecedhereisnohinginyou;youarehollowandempywhy,perhapsheprinceandprincessmaygooliveinacounrywherehereisadeepriver,andperhapsheymayhaveoneonlyson,alilefairhairedboywihvioleeyeslikeheprincehimself;andperhapssomedayhemaygoouowalkwihhisnurse;andperhapshenursemaygoosleepunderagreaelderree;andperhapshelileboymayfallinohedeepriverandbedrownedwhaaerriblemisforune!poorpeople,oloseheironlyson!iisreallyoodreadful!ishallnevergeoveri”

“buheyhavenolosheironlyson,”saidheromancandle;“nomisforunehashappenedohemaall”

“ineversaidhaheyhad,”repliedherocke;“isaidhaheymighifheyhadlosheironlysonherewouldbenouseinsayinganyhingmoreabouhemaerihaepeoplewhocryoverspilmilkbuwhenihinkhaheymighloseheironlyson,icerainlyamverymuchaffeced”

“youcerainlyare!”criedhebengalligh“infac,youarehemosaffecedpersonieverme”

“youareherudespersonieverme,”saidherocke,“andyouca

oundersandmyfriendshipforheprince”

“why,youdon’evenknowhim,”growledheromancandle

“ineversaidiknewhim,”answeredherocke“idaresayhaifiknewhimishouldnobehisfriendaalliisaverydangeroushingoknowone’sfriends”

“youhadreallybeerkeepyourselfdry,”saidhefireballoon“haisheimporanhing”

，