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near me I will sting him with my thorns。'
'And he has actually got one of my best blooms；' exclaimed the
White Rose…Tree。 'I gave it to the Infanta this morning myself； as
a birthday present； and he has stolen it from her。' And she called
out： 'Thief； thief； thief！' at the top of her voice。
Even the red Geraniums； who did not usually give themselves airs；
and were known to have a great many poor relations themselves；
curled up in disgust when they saw him； and when the Violets meekly
remarked that though he was certainly extremely plain； still he
could not help it； they retorted with a good deal of justice that
that was his chief defect； and that there was no reason why one
should admire a person because he was incurable； and； indeed； some
of the Violets themselves felt that the ugliness of the little
Dwarf was almost ostentatious； and that he would have shown much
better taste if he had looked sad； or at least pensive； instead of
jumping about merrily； and throwing himself into such grotesque and
silly attitudes。
As for the old Sundial； who was an extremely remarkable individual；
and had once told the time of day to no less a person than the
Emperor Charles V。 himself； he was so taken aback by the little
Dwarf's appearance； that he almost forgot to mark two whole minutes
with his long shadowy finger； and could not help saying to the
great milk…white Peacock； who was sunning herself on the
balustrade； that every one knew that the children of Kings were
Kings； and that the children of charcoal…burners were charcoal…
burners； and that it was absurd to pretend that it wasn't so； a
statement with which the Peacock entirely agreed； and indeed
screamed out； 'Certainly； certainly；' in such a loud； harsh voice；
that the gold…fish who lived in the basin of the cool splashing
fountain put their heads out of the water； and asked the huge stone
Tritons what on earth was the matter。
But somehow the Birds liked him。 They had seen him often in the
forest； dancing about like an elf after the eddying leaves； or
crouched up in the hollow of some old oak…tree； sharing his nuts
with the squirrels。 They did not mind his being ugly； a bit。 Why；
even the nightingale herself； who sang so sweetly in the orange
groves at night that sometimes the Moon leaned down to listen； was
not much to look at after all； and； besides； he had been kind to
them； and during that terribly bitter winter； when there were no
berries on the trees； and the ground was as hard as iron； and the
wolves had come down to the very gates of the city to look for
food； he had never once forgotten them； but had always given them
crumbs out of his little hunch of black bread； and divided with
them whatever poor breakfast he had。
So they flew round and round him； just touching his cheek with
their wings as they passed； and chattered to each other； and the
little Dwarf was so pleased that he could not help showing them the
beautiful white rose； and telling them that the Infanta herself had
given it to him because she loved him。
They did not understand a single word of what he was saying； but
that made no matter； for they put their heads on one side； and
looked wise； which is quite as good as understanding a thing； and
very much easier。
The Lizards also took an immense fancy to him； and when he grew
tired of running about and flung himself down on the grass to rest；
they played and romped all over him； and tried to amuse him in the
best way they could。 'Every one cannot be as beautiful as a
lizard；' they cried； 'that would be too much to expect。 And；
though it sounds absurd to say so； he is really not so ugly after
all； provided； of course； that one shuts one's eyes； and does not
look at him。' The Lizards were extremely philosophical by nature；
and often sat thinking for hours and hours together； when there was
nothing else to do； or when the weather was too rainy for them to
go out。
The Flowers； however； were excessively annoyed at their behaviour；
and at the behaviour of the birds。 'It only shows；' they said；
'what a vulgarising effect this incessant rushing and flying about
has。 Well…bred people always stay exactly in the same place； as we
do。 No one ever saw us hopping up and down the walks； or galloping
madly through the grass after dragon…flies。 When we do want change
of air； we send for the gardener； and he carries us to another bed。
This is dignified； and as it should be。 But birds and lizards have
no sense of repose； and indeed birds have not even a permanent
address。 They are mere vagrants like the gipsies； and should be
treated in exactly the same manner。' So they put their noses in
the air； and looked very haughty； and were quite delighted when
after some time they saw the little Dwarf scramble up from the
grass； and make his way across the terrace to the palace。
'He should certainly be kept indoors for the rest of his natural
life；' they said。 'Look at his hunched back； and his crooked
legs；' and they began to titter。
But the little Dwarf knew nothing of all this。 He liked the birds
and the lizards immensely； and thought that the flowers were the
most marvellous things in the whole world； except of course the
Infanta； but then she had given him the beautiful white rose； and
she loved him； and that made a great difference。 How he wished
that he had gone back with her！ She would have put him on her
right hand； and smiled at him； and he would have never left her
side； but would have made her his playmate； and taught her all
kinds of delightful tricks。 For though he had never been in a
palace before； he knew a great many wonderful things。 He could
make little cages out of rushes for the grasshoppers to sing in；
and fashion the long jointed bamboo into the pipe that Pan loves to
hear。 He knew the cry of every bird； and could call the starlings
from the tree…top； or the heron from the mere。 He knew the trail
of every animal； and could track the hare by its delicate
footprints； and the boar by the trampled leaves。 All the wild…
dances he knew； the mad dance in red raiment with the autumn； the
light dance in blue sandals over the corn； the dance with white
snow…wreaths in winter； and the blossom…dance through the orchards
in spring。 He knew where the wood…pigeons built their nests； and
once when a fowler had snared the parent birds； he had brought up
the young ones himself； and had built a little dovecot for them in
the cleft of a pollard elm。 They were quite tame； and used to feed
out of his hands every morning。 She would like them； and the
rabbits that scurried about in the long fern； and the jays with
their steely feathers and black bills； and the hedgehogs that could
curl themselves up into prickly balls； and the great wise tortoises
that crawled slowly about； shaking their heads and nibbling at the
young leaves。 Yes； she must certainly come to the forest and play
with him。 He would give he