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being the only sound that broke the silence。 After that they had
done this several times； they disappeared for a moment and came
back leading a brown shaggy bear by a chain； and carrying on their
shoulders some little Barbary apes。 The bear stood upon his head
with the utmost gravity； and the wizened apes played all kinds of
amusing tricks with two gipsy boys who seemed to be their masters；
and fought with tiny swords； and fired off guns； and went through a
regular soldier's drill just like the King's own bodyguard。 In
fact the gipsies were a great success。
But the funniest part of the whole morning's entertainment； was
undoubtedly the dancing of the little Dwarf。 When he stumbled into
the arena； waddling on his crooked legs and wagging his huge
misshapen head from side to side； the children went off into a loud
shout of delight； and the Infanta herself laughed so much that the
Camerera was obliged to remind her that although there were many
precedents in Spain for a King's daughter weeping before her
equals； there were none for a Princess of the blood royal making so
merry before those who were her inferiors in birth。 The Dwarf；
however； was really quite irresistible； and even at the Spanish
Court； always noted for its cultivated passion for the horrible； so
fantastic a little monster had never been seen。 It was his first
appearance； too。 He had been discovered only the day before；
running wild through the forest； by two of the nobles who happened
to have been hunting in a remote part of the great cork…wood that
surrounded the town； and had been carried off by them to the Palace
as a surprise for the Infanta； his father； who was a poor charcoal…
burner； being but too well pleased to get rid of so ugly and
useless a child。 Perhaps the most amusing thing about him was his
complete unconsciousness of his own grotesque appearance。 Indeed
he seemed quite happy and full of the highest spirits。 When the
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
beautif