🔊 I believe that for his escape he took advantage of the migration of a flock of wild birds. On the morning of his departure he put his planet in perfect order. He carefully cleaned out his active volcanoes. He possessed two active volcanoes; and they were very convenient for heating his breakfast in the morning. He also had one volcano that was extinct. But, as he said, "One never knows!" So he cleaned out the extinct volcano, too. If they are well cleaned out, volcanoes burn slowly and steadily, without any eruptions. Volcanic eruptions are like fires in a chimney. On our earth we are obviously much too small to clean out our volcanoes. That is why they bring no end of trouble upon us.

I think he used a flock of wild birds flying south to help him leave. On the morning he left, he made his planet very neat and tidy. He carefully cleaned his two active volcanoes. They were useful for heating his breakfast. He also had one volcano that was no longer active. But, as he said, "You never know!" So he cleaned that one too. If volcanoes are cleaned well, they burn slowly and evenly, without exploding. Volcano explosions are like chimney fires. On Earth, we are too small to clean our volcanoes. That's why they cause us so much trouble.

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migration /maɪˈɡreɪʃn/

n. the seasonal movement of animals from one region to another.

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flock /flɒk/

n. a group of birds, sheep, or goats.

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possessed /pəˈzest/

v. owned or had something.

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volcanoes /vɒlˈkeɪnəʊz/

n. openings in the earth's crust through which lava, ash, and gases erupt.

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extinct /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/

adj. no longer active or in existence.

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eruptions /ɪˈrʌpʃnz/

n. sudden, violent outbursts, especially of a volcano.

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chimney /ˈtʃɪmni/

n. a vertical pipe that carries smoke and gases up from a fire.

🔊 But on this last morning all these familiar tasks seemed very precious to him. And when he watered the flower for the last time, and prepared to place her under the shelter of her glass globe, he realized that he was very close to tears.

But on that last morning, all these usual chores felt very special to him. When he watered his flower for the last time and got ready to cover her with the glass dome, he felt like he might cry.

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precious /ˈpreʃəs/

adj. of great value; not to be wasted or treated carelessly.

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globe /ɡləʊb/

n. a spherical object; a model of the earth; a protective glass cover.

🔊 "Goodbye," he said.

"Goodbye," he said.

🔊 She made no answer.

She did not reply.

🔊 "Goodbye," he said again.

"Goodbye," he said again.

🔊 The flower coughed. But it was not because she had a cold.

The flower coughed. But it wasn't because she was sick.

🔊 "I have been silly," she said to him at last. "I ask your forgiveness. Try to be happy . . ."

"I've been foolish," she finally said to him. "Please forgive me. Be happy..."

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forgiveness /fəˈɡɪvnəs/

n. the action or process of ceasing to feel angry or resentful towards someone for an offence.

🔊 He was surprised by this absence of reproaches. He stood there all bewildered, the glass globe held arrested in mid-air. He did not understand this quiet sweetness.

He was surprised she wasn't scolding him. He stood there confused, holding the glass dome in the air. He didn't understand her gentle kindness.

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absence /ˈæbsəns/

n. the state of being away from a place or person.

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reproaches /rɪˈprəʊtʃɪz/

n. expressions of disapproval or disappointment.

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bewildered /bɪˈwɪldəd/

adj. perplexed and confused; very puzzled.

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arrested /əˈrestɪd/

v. stopped or halted the movement or progress of something.

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mid-air /ˌmɪd ˈeə(r)/

n. a point in the air not in contact with the ground or any surface.

🔊 "Of course I love you," the flower said to him. "It is my fault that you have not known it all the while. That is of no importance. But you—you have been just as foolish as I. Try to be happy . . . Let the glass globe be. I don't want it any more."

"Of course I love you," the flower said. "It's my fault you never knew. It doesn't matter. But you—you were just as silly as me. Be happy... Leave the glass dome. I don't need it anymore."

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fault /fɔːlt/

n. responsibility for a mistake or offence.

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foolish /ˈfuːlɪʃ/

adj. lacking good sense or judgment; unwise.

🔊 "But the wind—"

"But the wind—"

🔊 "My cold is not so bad as all that. . . The cool night air will do me good. I am a flower."

"My cold isn't that bad... The cool night air will help me. I am a flower."

🔊 "But the animals—"

"But the animals—"

🔊 "Well, I must endure the presence of two or three caterpillars if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies. It seems that they are very beautiful. And if not the butterflies—and the caterpillars—who will call upon me? You will be far away . . . As for the large animals—I am not at all afraid of any of them. I have my claws."

"Well, if I want to meet butterflies, I must put up with a few caterpillars first. They say butterflies are lovely. And if not butterflies or caterpillars, who will visit me? You'll be far away... As for big animals—I'm not scared of them. I have my claws."

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endure /ɪnˈdjʊə(r)/

v. to suffer something painful or difficult patiently.

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presence /ˈprezns/

n. the state of being present in a place.

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caterpillars /ˈkætəpɪləz/

n. the larval stage of butterflies and moths.

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acquainted /əˈkweɪntɪd/

adj. familiar with or knowledgeable about something.

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butterflies /ˈbʌtəflaɪz/

n. insects with large, often brightly coloured wings.

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claws /klɔːz/

n. the sharp, curved nails on the feet of some animals and birds.

🔊 And, naively, she showed her four thorns. Then she added:

Innocent, she showed her four thorns. Then she added:

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naively /naɪˈiːvli/

adv. in a way that shows a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.

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thorns /θɔːnz/

n. the sharp, pointed spines on the stem of some plants.

🔊 "Don't linger like this. You have decided to go away. Now go!"

"Don't wait around like this. You chose to leave. Now go!"

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linger /ˈlɪŋɡə(r)/

v. to stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctance to leave.

Chapter IX