Chapter 9

           Inordertomakehisescape,Ibelievehetookadvantageofamigrationofwildbirds. Onthemorningofhisdeparture,heputhisplanetinorder. Hecarefullyrakedouthisactivevolcanoes. Thelittleprincepossessedtwoactivevolcanoes, whichwereveryconvenientforwarming,hisbreakfast. 

           Healsopossessedoneextinctvolcano. But,ashesaid,"Youneverknow!" 

           Soherakedouttheextinctvolcano,too. Iftheyareproperlyrakedout,volcanoesburngentlyandregularly,withouteruptions. Volcaniceruptionsarelikefiresinachimney. 

           Ofcourse,onourEarthwearemuchtoorakeoutourvolcanoes. Thatiswhytheysomuchtrouble. 

           Thelittleprincealsouprooted,alittlesadlylastbaobabshoots. Hebelievedhewouldneverbecomingback. Butallthesefamiliartasksseemedverysweettohimonthislastmorning. Andwhenhewateredthefloweronelasttime,andputherunderglass, hefeltlikecrying. 

           "Good-bye,"hesaidtotheflower. 

           Butshedidnotanswerhim. 

           "Good-bye,"herepeated. 

           Theflowercoughed. Butnotbecauseshehadacold. 

           "I’vebeensilly,"shetoldhimatlast. "Iaskyourforgiveness.Trytobehappy." 

           Hewassurprisedthattherewerenoreproaches. Hestoodthere,quitebewildered,holdingtheglassbellinmidair. Hefailedtounderstandthiscalmsweetness.