The Little Prince (51)

The Little prince (51)

　　　XⅡ

　THE NEXT PLANET was inhabited by a tippler.
  This was a veru short visit, but it plunged the little prince into deep dejection.

  " What are you doing there ? " he said to the tippler, whom he found settled down in silence before a collection of empty bottles and also a collection of full bottles.



  " I am drinking, " replied the tippler, with a lugubrious air.

  " Why are you drinking ? " demanded the little prince.

  " So that I may forget, " replied the tippler.

  " Forget what ? " inquired the little prince, who already was sorry for him.

  " Forget that I am ashamed, " the tippler confessed, hanging his head.

  " Ashamed of what ? " insisted the little prince, who wanted to help him.

  " Ashamed of drinking ! " The tippler brought his speech to an end, and shut himself up in an impregnable silence.

  And the little prince went way, puzzled.

  " The grown-ups are certainly very, very odd, " he said to himself, as he continued on his journey.

(51)