The Short Stories of Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde

Author:Oscar Wilde
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harvard University Press

This so upset the gravity of the Infanta that she kept on laughing long after the little dwarf had run out of the arena, expressed a desire to her uncle that the dance should be immediately repeated, and though the programme was not yet exhausted, and there were many delightful things still to come, the Camerera, on the plea that the sun was too hot, decided that it would be better that she should return at once 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 tea,15 and expressed 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.16

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 all 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

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