the birthday of the infanta- 第5部分

Cupids；　in　front　of　the　two　large　fire…places　stood　great　screens

broidered　with　parrots　and　peacocks；　and　the　floor；　which　was　of

sea…green　onyx；　seemed　to　stretch　far　away　into　the　distance。　　Nor

was　he　alone。　　Standing　under　the　shadow　of　the　doorway；　at　the

extreme　end　of　the　room；　he　saw　a　little　figure　watching　him。　　His

heart　trembled；　a　cry　of　joy　broke　from　his　lips；　and　he　moved　out

into　the　sunlight。　　As　he　did　so；　the　figure　moved　out　also；　and　he

saw　it　plainly。



The　Infanta！　　It　was　a　monster；　the　most　grotesque　monster　he　had

ever　beheld。　　Not　properly　shaped；　as　all　other　people　were；　but

hunchbacked；　and　crooked…limbed；　with　huge　lolling　head　and　mane　of

black　hair。　　The　little　Dwarf　frowned；　and　the　monster　frowned

also。　　He　laughed；　and　it　laughed　with　him；　and　held　its　hands　to

its　sides；　just　as　he　himself　was　doing。　　He　made　it　a　mocking　bow；

and　it　returned　him　a　low　reverence。　　He　went　towards　it；　and　it

came　to　meet　him；　copying　each　step　that　he　made；　and　stopping　when

he　stopped　himself。　　He　shouted　with　amusement；　and　ran　forward；

and　reached　out　his　hand；　and　the　hand　of　the　monster　touched　his；

and　it　was　as　cold　as　ice。　　He　grew　afraid；　and　moved　his　hand

across；　and　the　monster's　hand　followed　it　quickly。　　He　tried　to

press　on；　but　something　smooth　and　hard　stopped　him。　　The　face　of

the　monster　was　now　close　to　his　own；　and　seemed　full　of　terror。

He　brushed　his　hair　off　his　eyes。　　It　imitated　him。　　He　struck　at

it；　and　it　returned　blow　for　blow。　　He　loathed　it；　and　it　made

hideous　faces　at　him。　　He　drew　back；　and　it　retreated。



What　is　it？　　He　thought　for　a　moment；　and　looked　round　at　the　rest

of　the　room。　　It　was　strange；　but　everything　seemed　to　have　its

double　in　this　invisible　wall　of　clear　water。　　Yes；　picture　for

picture　was　repeated；　and　couch　for　couch。　　The　sleeping　Faun　that

lay　in　the　alcove　by　the　doorway　had　its　twin　brother　that

slumbered；　and　the　silver　Venus　that　stood　in　the　sunlight　held　out

her　arms　to　a　Venus　as　lovely　as　herself。



Was　it　Echo？　　He　had　called　to　her　once　in　the　valley；　and　she　had

answered　him　word　for　word。　　Could　she　mock　the　eye；　as　she　mocked

the　voice？　　Could　she　make　a　mimic　world　just　like　the　real　world？

Could　the　shadows　of　things　have　colour　and　life　and　movement？

Could　it　be　that　…　？



He　started；　and　taking　from　his　breast　the　beautiful　white　rose；　he

turned　round；　and　kissed　it。　　The　monster　had　a　rose　of　its　own；

petal　for　petal　the　same！　　It　kissed　it　with　like　kisses；　and

pressed　it　to　its　heart　with　horrible　gestures。



When　the　truth　dawned　upon　him；　he　gave　a　wild　cry　of　despair；　and

fell　sobbing　to　the　ground。　　So　it　was　he　who　was　misshapen　and

hunchbacked；　foul　to　look　at　and　grotesque。　　He　himself　was　the

monster；　and　it　was　at　him　that　all　the　children　had　been　laughing；

and　the　little　Princess　who　he　had　thought　loved　him　…　she　too　had

been　merely　mocking　at　his　ugliness；　and　making　merry　over　his

twisted　limbs。　　Why　had　they　not　left　him　in　the　forest；　where

there　was　no　mirror　to　tell　him　how　loathsome　he　was？　　Why　had　his

father　not　killed　him；　rather　than　sell　him　to　his　shame？　　The　hot

tears　poured　down　his　cheeks；　and　he　tore　the　white　rose　to　pieces。

The　sprawling　monster　did　the　same；　and　scattered　the　faint　petals

in　the　air。　　It　grovelled　on　the　ground；　and；　when　he　looked　at　it；

it　watched　him　with　a　face　drawn　with　pain。　　He　crept　away；　lest　he

should　see　it；　and　covered　his　eyes　with　his　hands。　　He　crawled；

like　some　wounded　thing；　into　the　shadow；　and　lay　there　moaning。



And　at　that　moment　the　Infanta　herself　came　in　with　her　companions

through　the　open　window；　and　when　they　saw　the　ugly　little　dwarf

lying　on　the　ground　and　beating　the　floor　with　his　clenched　hands；

in　the　most　fantastic　and　exaggerated　manner；　they　went　off　into

shouts　of　happy　laughter；　and　stood　all　round　him　and　watched　him。



'His　dancing　was　funny；'　said　the　Infanta；　'but　his　acting　is

funnier　still。　　Indeed　he　is　almost　as　good　as　the　puppets；　only　of

course　not　quite　so　natural。'　　And　she　fluttered　her　big　fan；　and

applauded。



But　the　little　Dwarf　never　looked　up；　and　his　sobs　grew　fainter　and

fainter；　and　suddenly　he　gave　a　curious　gasp；　and　clutched　his

side。　　And　then　he　fell　back　again；　and　lay　quite　still。



'That　is　capital；'　said　the　Infanta；　after　a　pause；　'but　now　you

must　dance　for　me。'



'Yes；'　cried　all　the　children；　'you　must　get　up　and　dance；　for　you

are　as　clever　as　the　Barbary　apes；　and　much　more　ridiculous。'　　But

the　little　Dwarf　made　no　answer。



And　the　Infanta　stamped　her　foot；　and　called　out　to　her　uncle；　who

was　walking　on　the　terrace　with　the　Chamberlain；　reading　some

despatches　that　had　just　arrived　from　Mexico；　where　the　Holy　Office

had　recently　been　established。　　'My　funny　little　dwarf　is　sulking；'

she　cried；　'you　must　wake　him　up；　and　tell　him　to　dance　for　me。'



They　smiled　at　each　other；　and　sauntered　in；　and　Don　Pedro　stooped

down；　and　slapped　the　Dwarf　on　the　cheek　with　his　embroidered

glove。　　'You　must　dance；'　he　said；　'PETIT　MONSIRE。　　You　must　dance。

The　Infanta　of　Spain　and　the　Indies　wishes　to　be　amused。'



But　the　little　Dwarf　never　moved。



'A　whipping　master　should　be　sent　for；'　said　Don　Pedro　wearily；　and

he　went　back　to　the　terrace。　　But　the　Chamberlain　looked　grave；　and

he　knelt　beside　the　little　dwarf；　and　put　his　hand　upon　his　heart。

And　after　a　few　moments　he　shrugged　his　shoulders；　and　rose　up；　and

having　made　a　low　bow　to　the　Infanta；　he　said　…



'MI　BELLA　PRINCESA；　your　funny　little　dwarf　will　never　dance　again。

It　is　a　pity；　for　he　is　so　ugly　that　he　might　have　made　the　King

smile。'



'But　why　will　he　not　dance　again？'　asked　the　Infanta；　laughing。



'Because　his　heart　is　broken；'　answered　the　Chamberlain。



And　the　Infanta　frowned；　and　her　dainty　rose…leaf　lips　curled　in

pretty　disdain。　　'For　the　future　let　those　who　come　to　play　with　me

have　no　hearts；'　she　cried；　and　she　ran　out　into　the　garden。