English
Theprincessburstintoapassionoftearsandfellonthefloor.
Thereshelayforanhour,andhertearsneverceased.
Allthepent-upcryingofherlifewasspentnow.
Andaraincameon,suchashadneverbeenseeninthatcountry.
Thesunshoneallthetime,andthegreatdrops,whichfellstraighttotheearth,shonelikewise.
Thepalacewasintheheartofarainbow.
Itwasarainofrubies,andsapphires,andemeralds,andtopazes.
Thetorrentspouredfromthemountainslikemoltengold;andifithadnotbeenforitssubterraneousoutlet,thelakewouldhaveoverflowedandinundatedthecountry.Itwasfullfromshoretoshore.
princesslookingleft
Buttheprincessdidnotheedthelake.Shelayonthefloorandwept.
Andthisrainwithindoorswasfarmorewonderfulthantherainoutofdoors.
Forwhenitabatedalittle,andsheproceededtorise,shefound,toherastonishment,thatshecouldnot.
Atlength,aftermanyefforts,shesucceededingettinguponherfeet.Butshetumbleddownagaindirectly.
Hearingherfall,heroldnurseutteredayellofdelight,andrantoher,screaming:
“Mydarlingchild!She’sfoundhergravity!”
“Oh,that’sit,isit?”saidtheprincess,rubbinghershoulderandherkneealternately.“Iconsideritveryunpleasant.IfeelasifIshouldbecrushedtopieces.”
“Hurrah!”criedtheprincefromthebed.“Ifyou’vecomeround,princess,sohaveI.How’sthelake?”
“Brimful,”answeredthenurse.
“Thenwe’reallhappy.”
“Thatweareindeed!”answeredtheprincess,sobbing.
Andtherewasrejoicingalloverthecountrythatrainyday.
Eventhebabiesforgottheirpasttroubles,anddancedandcrowedamazingly.
Andthekingtoldstories,andthequeenlistenedtothem.
Andhedividedthemoneyinhisbox,andshethehoneyinherpot,amongallthechildren.
Andtherewassuchjubilationaswasneverheardofbefore.
Ofcoursetheprinceandprincesswerebetrothedatonce.
Buttheprincesshadtolearntowalk,beforetheycouldbemarriedwithanypropriety.
Andthiswasnotsoeasyathertimeoflife,forshecouldwalknomorethanababy.
Shewasalwaysfallingdownandhurtingherself.
“Isthisthegravityyouusedtomakesomuchof?”saidsheonedaytotheprince,asheraisedherfromthefloor.“Formypart,Iwasagreatdealmorecomfortablewithoutit.”
“No,no,that’snotit.Thisisit,”repliedtheprince,ashetookherup,andcarriedheraboutlikeababy,kissingherallthetime.“Thisisgravity.”
“That’sbetter,”saidshe.“Idon’tmindthatsomuch.”
Andshesmiledthesweetest,loveliestsmileintheprince’sface.
Andshegavehimonelittlekissinreturnforallhis;andhethoughtthemoverpaid,forhewasbesidehimselfwithdelight.
Ifearshecomplainedofhergravitymorethanonceafterthis,notwithstanding.
Itwasalongtimebeforeshegotreconciledtowalking.
Butthepainoflearningitwasquitecounterbalancedbytwothings,eitherofwhichwouldhavebeensufficientconsolation.
Thefirstwas,thattheprincehimselfwasherteacher;andthesecond,thatshecouldtumbleintothelakeasoftenasshepleased.
Still,shepreferredtohavetheprincejumpinwithher;andthesplashtheymadebeforewasnothingtothesplashtheymadenow.
Thelakeneversankagain.Inprocessoftimeitworetheroofofthecavernquitethrough,andwastwiceasdeepasbefore.
Theonlyrevengetheprincesstookuponherauntwastotreadprettyhardonhergoutytoethenexttimeshesawher.
Butshewassorryforittheverynextday,whensheheardthatthewaterhadunderminedherhouse,andthatithadfalleninthenight,buryingherinitsruins;whencenooneeverventuredtodigupherbody.Theresheliestothisday.
Sotheprinceandprincesslivedandwerehappy;andhadcrownsofgold,andclothesofcloth,andshoesofleather,andchildrenofboysandgirls,notoneofwhomwaseverknown,onthemostcriticaloccasion,tolosethesmallestatomofhisorherdueproportionofgravity.
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