第9部分(第2/4 页)

ok　the

chair　at　a　meeting　some　time　ago；　and　we　passed　resolutions　condemning

everything　that　we　did　not　like。　However；　they　did　not　seem　to　have

much　effect。　Now　I　go　in　for　domesticity；　and　look　after　my　family。〃

〃I　am　made　for　public　life；〃　said　the　Rocket；　〃and　so　are　all　my

relations；　even　the　humblest　of　them。　Whenever　we　appear　we　excite

great　attention。　I　have　not　actually　appeared　myself；　but　when　I　do　so　it

will　be　a　magnificent　sight。　As　for　domesticity；　it　ages　one　rapidly；　and

distracts　one's　mind　from　higher　things。〃

〃Ah！　the　higher　things　of　life；　how　fine　they　are！〃　said　the　Duck；　〃and

that　reminds　me　how　hungry　I　feel〃：　and　she　swam　away　down　the

stream；　saying；　〃Quack；　quack；　quack。〃

〃e　back！　e　back！〃　screamed　the　Rocket；　〃I　have　a　great　deal　to

say　to　you〃；　but　the　Duck　paid　no　attention　to　him。　〃I　am　glad　that　she

has　gone；〃　he　said　to　himself；　〃she　has　a　decidedly　middle…class　mind〃；

and　he　sank　a　little　deeper　still　into　the　mud；　and　began　to　think　about　the

loneliness　of　genius；　when　suddenly　two　little　boys　in　white　smocks　came

running　down　the　bank；　with　a　kettle　and　some　faggots。

〃This　must　be　the　deputation；〃　said　the　Rocket；　and　he　tried　to　look

very　dignified。

〃Hallo！〃　cried　one　of　the　boys；　〃look　at　this　old　stick！　I　wonder　how

it　came　here〃；　and　he　picked　the　rocket　out　of　the　ditch。

〃OLD　Stick