exclaimedthebeetle."flyaboutasabutterfly,indeed!whatofthat.ihavecomeoutoftheemperor'sstable,andnoonethere,noteventheemperor'shorse,who,infact,wearsmycast-offgoldenshoes,hasanyideaofflying,exceptingmyself.tohavewingsandfly!why,icandothatalready;"andsosaying,hespreadhiswingsandflewaway."idon'twanttobedisgusted,"hesaidtohimself,"andyetican'thelpit."soonafter,hefelldownuponanextensivelawn,andforatimepretendedtosleep,butatlastfellasleepinearnest.suddenlyaheavyshowerofraincamefallingfromtheclouds.thebeetlewokeupwiththenoiseandwouldhavebeengladtocreepintotheearthforshelter,buthecouldnot.hewastumbledoverandoverwiththerain,sometimesswimmingonhisstomachandsometimesonhisback;andasforflying,thatwasoutofthequestion.hebegantodoubtwhetherheshouldescapewithhislife,soheremained,quietlylyingwherehewas.afterawhiletheweatherclearedupalittle,andthebeetlewasabletorubthewaterfromhiseyes,andlookabouthim.hesawsomethinggleaming,andhemanagedtomakehiswayuptoit.itwaslinenwhichhadbeenlaidtobleachonthegrass.hecreptintoafoldofthedamplinen,whichcertainlywasnotsocomfortableaplacetolieinasthewarmstable,buttherewasnothingbetter,soheremainedlyingthereforawholedayandnight,andtherainkeptonallthetime.towardsmorninghecreptoutofhishiding-place,feelinginaverybadtemperwiththeclimate.twofrogsweresittingonthelinen,andtheirbrighteyesactuallyglistenedwithpleasure.

"wonderfulweatherthis,"criedoneofthem,"andsoslinenholdsthewatertogethersobeautifully,thatmyhindlegsquiverasifiweregoingtoswim."

"ishouldliketoknow,"saidanother,"iftheswallowwhofliessofarinhermanyjourneystoforeignlands,evermetwithabetterclimatethanthis.whatdeliciousmoisture!itisaspleasantaslyinginawetditch.iamsureanyonewhodoesnotenjoythishasnoloveforhisfatherland."

"haveyoueverbeenintheemperor'sstable?"askedthebeetle."therethemoistureiswarmandrefreshing;that'stheclimateforme,buticouldnottakeitwithmeonmytravels.istherenotevenadunghillhereinthisgarden,whereapersonofrank,likemyself,couldtakeuphisabodeandfeelathome?"butthefrogseitherdidnotorwouldnotunderstandhim.

"ineveraskaquestiontwice,"saidthebeetle,afterhehadaskedthisonethreetimes,andreceivednoanswer.thenhewentonalittlefartherandstumbledagainstapieceofbrokencrockery-ware,whichcertainlyoughtnottohavebeenlyingthere.butasitwasthere,itformedagoodshelteragainstwindandweathertoseveralfamiliesofearwigswhodweltinit.theirrequirementswerenotmany,theywereverysociable,andfullofaffectionfortheirchildren,somuchsothateachmotherconsideredherownchildthemostbeautifulandcleverofthemall.

"ourdearsonhasengagedhimself,"saidonemother,"dearinnocentboy;hisgreatestambitionisthathemayonedaycreepintoaclergyman'sear.thatisaveryartlessandloveablewish;andbeingengagedwillkeephimsteady.whathappinessforamother!"

"ourson,"saidanother,"hadscarcelycreptoutoftheegg,whenhewasoffonhistravels.heisalllifeandspirits,iexpecthewillwearouthishornswithrunning.howcharmingthisisforamother,isitnotmr.beetle?"