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children laughed； he laughed as freely and as joyously as any of
them； and at the close of each dance he made them each the funniest
of bows； smiling and nodding at them just as if he was really one
of themselves； and not a little misshapen thing that Nature； in
some humourous mood； had fashioned for others to mock at。 As for
the Infanta； she absolutely fascinated him。 He could not keep his
eyes off her； and seemed to dance for her alone； and when at the
close of the performance； remembering how she had seen the great
ladies of the Court throw bouquets to Caffarelli； the famous
Italian treble； whom the Pope had sent from his own chapel to
Madrid that he might cure the King's melancholy by the sweetness of
his voice； she took out of her hair the beautiful white rose； and
partly for a jest and partly to tease the Camerera； threw it to him
across the arena with her sweetest smile； he took the whole matter
quite seriously； and pressing the flower to his rough coarse lips
he put his hand upon his heart； and sank on one knee before her；
grinning from ear to ear； and with his little bright eyes sparkling
with pleasure。
This so upset the gravity of the Infanta that she kept on laughing
long after the little Dwarf had ran out of the arena； and expressed
a desire to her uncle that the dance should be immediately
repeated。 The Camerera； however； on the plea that the sun was too
hot； decided that it would be better that her Highness should
return without delay to the Palace； where a wonderful feast had
been already prepared for her； including a real birthday cake with
her own initials worked all over it in painted sugar and a lovely
silver flag waving from the top。 The Infanta accordingly rose up
with much dignity； and having given orders that the little dwarf
was to dance again for her after the hour of siesta； and conveyed
her thanks to the young Count of Tierra…Nueva for his charming
reception； she went back to her apartments； the children following
in the same order in which they had entered。
Now when the little Dwarf heard that he was to dance a second time
before the Infanta； and by her own express command； he was so proud
that he ran out into the garden； kissing the white rose in an
absurd ecstasy of pleasure； and making the most uncouth and clumsy
gestures of delight。
The Flowers were quite indignant at his daring to intrude into
their beautiful home； and when they saw him capering up and down
the walks； and waving his arms above his head in such a ridiculous
manner； they could not restrain their feelings any longer。
'He is really far too ugly to be allowed to play in any place where
we are；' cried the Tulips。
'He should drink poppy…juice； and go to sleep for a thousand
years；' said the great scarlet Lilies； and they grew quite hot and
angry。
'He is a perfect horror！' screamed the Cactus。 'Why； he is twisted
and stumpy； and his head is completely out of proportion with his
legs。 Really he makes me feel prickly all over； and if he comes
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