第8部分(第2/8 頁)

　perhaps　they　may　have　one　only　son；　a　little　fair…haired

boy　with　violet　eyes　like　the　Prince　himself；　and　perhaps　some　day　he　may

go　out　to　walk　with　his　nurse；　and　perhaps　the　nurse　may　go　to　sleep　under

a　great　elder…tree；　and　perhaps　the　little　boy　may　fall　into　the　deep　river

and　be　drowned。　What　a　terrible　misfortune！　Poor　people；　to　lose　their

only　son！　It　is　really　too　dreadful！　I　shall　never　get　over　it。〃

〃But　they　have　not　lost　their　only　son；〃　said　the　Roman　Candle；　〃no

misfortune　has　happened　to　them　at　all。〃

〃I　never　said　that　they　had；〃　replied　the　Rocket；　〃I　said　that　they　might。

If　they　had　lost　their　only　son　there　would　be　no　use　in　saying　anything

more　about　the　matter。　I　hate　people　who　cry　over　spilt　milk。　But　when

I　think　that　they　might　lose　their　only　son；　I　certainly　am　very　much

affected。〃

〃You　certainly　are！〃　cried　the　Bengal　Light。　〃In　fact；　you　are　the

most　affected　person　I　ever　met。〃

〃You　are　the　rudest　person　I　ever　met；〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃and　you

cannot　understand　my　friendship　for　the　Prince。〃

〃Why；　you　don't　even　know　him；〃　growled　the　Roman　Candle。

〃I　never　said　I　knew　him；〃　answered　the　Rocket。　〃I　dare　say　that　if　I

knew　him　I　should　not　be　his　friend　at　all。　It　is　a　very　dangerous　thing　to

know　one's　friends。〃　〃You　had　really　better　keep　yourself　dry；〃　said　the

Fire…balloon。　〃That　is　the　impor